Former Magpie and Saint Nathan Freeman signs to play in the VFL in 2019

It took injury-riddled Nathan Freeman five years and two clubs to make his AFL debut after being drafted by Collingwood. Delisted after playing just two games, the former Saint is now off to the VFL.

Nathan Freeman celebrates after kicking a goal for the Saints against Essendon. Picture: Getty Images

Injury-cruelled former AFL player Nathan Freeman will continue his career in the VFL, linking with Frankston.

Freeman, 23, was sought by state league clubs from around the country but has committed to the Dolphins.

He trained with them on Monday night, a few hours after meeting Port Melbourne.

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It’s a boost for the stand-alone club as it prepares for its second season back in the VFL after sitting out 2017 due to financial problems.

There was an outpouring of support for Freeman this year when, almost five years after being drafted, he finally made his AFL debut for St Kilda.

He played one more match for the Saints and was delisted at the end of the season.

A star Sandringham Dragons player in the under-18 competition, Freeman was selection No.10 in the 2013 national draft.

Nathan Freeman shoots out a handball during his AFL debut.

After two seasons at Collingwood he crossed to the Saints, where he continued to have hamstring problems.

But he put together an impressive run of performances for Sandringham in the VFL this year, regularly gaining more than 30 possessions and eventually earning a call-up to the AFL for the Round 20 match against the Western Bulldogs. He also played in Round 21 against Essendon.

Freeman knows new Frankston coach Danny Ryan from their time at the Dragons, and Ryan said today: “Nathan Freeman, as a top-10 draftee, would arguably be one of the biggest signings in the club’s history.

“He’s been massively unlucky with his body.
“He still has challenges with that but he showed great signs late in his AFL career and he has aspirations to go back to the AFL.

“He’ll no doubt lift the profile of the new Dolphins and it’s a positive signs in terms of where the program is at and where it’s heading.’’

Ryan said Freeman’s arrival could act as a “domino’’ for other former AFL players to join Frankston.

The Dolphins are “in play’’ with other a number of other potential recruits.

Their two 2018 players with AFL experience, former Richmond pair Jake Batchelor and Todd Elton, have moved on, Batchelor to coach at St Kilda and Elton to play at Hastings in the MPNFL.

Aside from Freeman, other confirmed recruits for next season include former Casey Demons Goy Lok, Liam Hiscock and Dylan Gordon, delisted Sydney Swans rookie Angus Styles and former Hawthorn rookie Shem Tatupu.