VFL: Nathan Freeman talks up Frankston Dolphins for mid-season draft

Ex-AFL player Nathan Freeman has made a rattling start to the VFL season, but he’s talking up a few of his teammates.

Mitch Cox takes a bounce for Frankston Dolphins. Pic: Matt Walker.

Everyone is talking about Nathan Freeman.

But the Frankston Dolphins star is talking up some of his younger teammates.

The former Collingwood and St Kilda wingman has made a bolting start to the VFL season, having 40 disposals against Coburg and another 42 against North Melbourne in Round 2.

It’s led to discussion about his prospects in the AFL mid-season draft.

But Freeman says a return to the highest level isn't on his mind.

“To be honest, I don’t even think about it right now,’’ he said on radio SEN Tuesday night.

“I’m enjoying my footy and playing down at Frankston with a great group of blokes.

“I don’t think anyone wants a plodding inside mid at the moment. It’s more talls that they want in the draft at the moment.’’

He added: “I think there are better prospects down at Frankston than myself.

“We’ve got blokes like Will Fordham and Anthony Brolic and Bailey Lambert, who is the son of (former AFL player Craig).

Bailey Lambert takes a shot for Frankston Dolphins. Pic: Matt Walker.

“He’s a weapon, mate. I think he’s played three VFL games in his life, coming from Richmond VFL across to us last year. He’s just a ball of energy. He has so much confidence in himself and it’s probably shone through in the way he’s performing … he hits the scoreboard, he has elite defence, plays tall, plays small, marks his over his head. He’s got a fair few weapons and I could see that would be quite appealing to AFL clubs if they just come down and take a look.’’

Freeman also gave some lift-off to Mitch Cox, the son of Dandenong Stingrays coach Nick, calling him a “speed wingman’’.

He said Cox has “got has all the tricks’’, as evidenced with his brilliant goal against Coburg in the season-opener.

The right-footer went through the Stingrays and played at Casey before transferring to Frankston in 2019.

NATHAN FREEMAN PICKS UP 42 POSSESSIONS AS FRANKSTON ROUTS NORTH MELBOURNE

2001.

That’s how far back you have to go to the last time Frankston won the first two games of a VFL season.

Enjoy the look of the ladder, Dolphins fans. Your team is third.

After defeating Coburg in Round 1, the Dolphins stitched up a so-so North Melbourne side in Saturday’s match at Arden St, 16.8 (104) to 5.9 (39).

Again they scored more than 100 points.

And again they had outstanding players in Nathan Freeman and Bailey Lambert.

Former Collingwood and St Kilda wingman Freeman gathered 40 possessions against Coburg and he collected 42 against the Roos.

Of course, those sorts of numbers prompt speculation about a possible return to the AFL for the right-footer.

At 25, and free of the injuries that curtailed his time in the AFL, Freeman is in a “good space’’, according to Dolphins coach Danny Ryan.

Nathan Freeman on the burst against North Melbourne: Pic: Matt Walker.

Asked about the mid-season draft, Ryan said: “The cold-hearted realist in me says no. The soft-hearted romantic in me says it would be fantastic.

“There would be others in the same boat, like Will (Fordham).

“Nathan has this great mindset at the moment. I’m not saying he‘s freewheeling but he’s really investing in the football club and he’s probably relaxed about where he’s at. He’s enjoying his footy, he’s having fun.

“I’m sure in his heart of hearts he’d love another chance but he’s probably just happy playing some good footy. He’s a genuine go-to at stoppage, a real target for us, and he can break out and use his leg speed.

Frankston coach Danny Ryan.

Lambert kicked five goals and had 17 possessions; he’s taking marks and making his mark as a Dolphin after two years with Richmond VFL where he had little senior opportunity. Fordham had 24 disposals and Anthony Brolic 23.

Ryan was pleased to get four more points but said the Roos were struggling.

They fielded seven AFL players and lost one of them, Phoenix Spicer, early to injury.

“The Coburg win was a great win. Yesterday North were really down on numbers and if I’m brutally honest, we played poorly and still got the chocolates,’’ Ryan said.

“It you looked at the Coburg game and you looked at yesterday, it was chalk and cheese.

“But the flip side is we’ve won two in a row. We had a lot of players down but still won. Freeman played well, Fordham played well, Bailey Lambert’s hit a vein of form.’’

He added: “As I said to the boys after the game, I’m making no apologies for being greedy about our performance. We want to keep learning and keep improving. We’ve got a real focus around the process. The scoreboard will take care of itself. And by the way, we still did a lot right. Our contest was super, our stoppage was good.’’

There’s more than a hint of former gun Dolphins goalkicker Justin Berry about Jack Mentha, and he kicked three goals to go with his brace in Round 1.

Fordham, Nathan Scagliarini and Blake O’Leary kicked two apiece.

But Ryan said the Dolphins’ defence underpinned the victory.

“Our backline was super. That was what really set the game up for us,’’ he said, singling out James Rendell and Taine Barlow.

With Brett O’Hanlon taking ill late in the week, Cal Jones, signed from Sandringham, came in for his first game for the club and performed well as a tall defender.

WA ruck recruit Jeremy Goddard also came in for his debut, replacing Jack Berry (knee).

The Dolphins will get their first look at interstate opposition on Saturday night when they host Aspley (1-1) under lights.