Nathan Freeman to play the rest of the SFNL season with Dingley

After making his Dingley debut last week, ex-AFL onballer Nathan Freeman will be a Dingo full-time after walking away from Frankston VFL.

Nathan Freeman of the Saints celebrates after kicking his first AFL goal on August 10, 2018. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Nathan Freeman will be a Dingo for the rest of the Southern league season.

The prolific Frankston VFL and ex-AFL onballer has decided to play out the year with junior club Dingley after a hectic 2022 saw him train with Gold Coast and Adelaide in the pre-season before returning to Melbourne in May.

Freeman played two VFL games, collecting 38 disposals in the loss to Coburg, but will not return this season.

The former Collingwood and St Kilda-listed ball-winner made his local footy debut on Saturday against St Kilda City, a team that featured Dane Swan and Brendan Fevola.

The mid-season addition is a massive boost to the Dingos’ finals hopes as they cling to fifth with five games remaining.

Nathan Freeman training with Adelaide. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Dingley coach Danny Ades said Freeman had fitted in seamlessly.

“He was always planning on coming back via us from injury but said he was thinking about playing with us for the remainder,” Ades said.

“He played on Saturday and called me on Monday morning and said he’d talked to Frankston and that he’d be on board for the rest of the season, which is exciting.

“He fitted in straight away (on Saturday), I think he really enjoyed himself playing alongside his mates.

“He’s a Dingley kid, the Freemans are a Dingley family, he played his junior footy with a lot of the guys in the senior team but has always been around the team even during his time in the AFL.”

After a 34-point loss to St Kilda City on Saturday, Dingley sit in fifth place on the SFNL Division 1 ladder.

The Dingos are a game clear of Springvale Districts with Port Melbourne Colts and Mordialloc a further game back with five games remaining.

Ades’ men face a difficult challenge this weekend with a trip to face ladder-leader Cranbourne.

Dingley pushed the Eagles to 12 points earlier in the season and will be looking to square the ledger.

“We dropped a few close games earlier in the season that would have been handy at this point and one of those was against Cranbourne, so it would be nice to take the four points on their deck,” Ades said.

“We’ve got a couple of key players back this week, which will be handy.”

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Jake Mullen seriously injured his ankle in the last meeting against Cranbourne on May 7 but is expected to return in a major boost to the Dingos attack.

Lachie Benton is a chance to return from NAB League duties, while Tim McGenniss will face a fitness test having recovered from a calf injury.

Ades said McGenniss was 50-50 to face Cranbourne with a return against Mordialloc after the bye a possibility.

Springvale Districts faces second-last Bentleigh at Bentleigh Reserve, while Port Melbourne Colts tackles St Paul’s McKinnon and Mordialloc hosts St Kilda City.

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He nearly played last week.

But, providing he gets through training on Thursday, Nathan Freeman will play with Dingley in the Southern league on Saturday.

The Dingoes take on St Kilda City, with Dane Swan and Brendan Fevola, at the Peanut Farm.

Freeman is on Frankston’s VFL list but hasn’t played for a month because of a hamstring strain.

It’s believed the Dolphins are happy for the 27-year-old to return through Dingley, where he played his junior football.

Nathan Freeman playing for Frankston. Photo by Scott Barbour/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Dingley coach Danny Ades said Freeman was selected for the Dingoes last week but pulled out of the game with a tight hammy on the Friday.

“He knows his body pretty well and he said, ‘look I reckon I’m a week short’,’’ Ades said.

“The plan is to play this Saturday.

“He’s a Frankston listed player so they would have to sign off on it again.

“I think they’ve given him the green light to come back through local footy and we’ll then see what transpires through that.’’

Dingley is hopeful Freeman will play more for them this season, and maybe even qualify for finals.

Freeman grew up in Dingley and played his junior footy with the Dingoes, starting in the Under 9s at the age of eight. He was a star junior, winning four Dingley best and fairests as well as two league medals.

Freeman was a top-10 draft pick who battled injuries during his AFL career.

He starred for Frankston last year when he averaged 37.7 disposals per game and was rewarded by being invited to train with the Gold Coast Suns in the 2022 pre-season, boosting his hopes of getting another crack at the AFL.

Nathan Freeman of the Saints.

Freeman in Crows colours.

In February he was added to the Adelaide Crows’ SANFL squad, but returned to Melbourne for work in May.

Ades said Freeman was keen to “play with mates and sample local footy, with less demands’’.

“He’s exhausted just about every option there is and he’s put in so many hours into his craft,’’ Ades said.

Fifth-placed Dingley has been whacked with injuries this season, but is set to regain a raft of key players in the coming weeks.

“For the first time in a long time we might have a nice headache at the selection table this week,’’ Ades said.

“A couple are looking like they might be available which is good.’’

Full back Alex Windhager could be a key addition this week as the Dingos look to quell Saints forwards Fevola and Aaron Edwards.

Reigning best-and-fairest winner Cam Hansen and ex-North Melbourne listed Tim McGenniss are also in line for selection.

Star recruits Michael Dolan and Jake Mullen should be available in the coming weeks.