Is Nathan Freeman that good?

[Funkadelic]

Thanks crackerjack and TP for the kind words, yes It would be difficult to do every player!
Agree that off the ball work is just as important as kicks marks and handballs, it's just hard to quantify I guess, something you kinda have to see the game live to really get a grasp of. Also just wanted to correct the thought that it was freeman who centers the ball in the third, it was Broomhead.
To those who feel his game was underwhelming or not up to scratch, I ask what were your expectations? Every midfielder who played bar Mitchell had multiple clangers, and that doesn't bother me at all because it was the first competitive hit out for the year.

[RudeBoy]

[Pies2016]

I have heard both Malcolm blight and david parkin say " you never judge a footballer on his first AFL game ". Thats good enough for me.
I would hate to be Scharenberg on debut, already he is on a hiding to nothing.

[E]

[regan is true fullback]

Broomhead had a shocker. Oxley, who had his whole season derailed by injury, showed very little. Adams won 6 clearances, but I didn't remember much else. Dwyer hardly sighted. Ordinary games from Crisp, Brown, Frost Goldsack and Toovey. Mitchell, who has always given us trouble, was best on ground. Most of the best players were Hawks, and yet who won by 7 goals?

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Both hammies intact. Pass

[Tannin]

Broomhead was indeed poor. He's been injured and needs to regain his touch - though he did do a couple of nice things just to remind us of his massive talent.

Oxley came on late in the game and did about as much as you could expect. He was fine when he got a chance. Nothing special, but no reason to worry.

Adams did a lot of hard work. He wasn't as effective as you'd want our #1 inside mid to be, but he's new in the role. He was worth his spot on the night and will improve as the season rolls on.

Dwyer played very well once he was brought on in the second half. Better than I'd expected, actually. He will get plenty of senioor games this year on that form.

Crisp: showed a bit, didn't knock anyone's socks off. Wait and see.

Brown: started like carp, slowly got better as the game went on. Long way to go yet, but the improvement was noticable and he'll be better for the run.

Frost looked out of touch and completely lost. It will take him a while to adjust to the very different role he's being asked to play now that Brown has been given Frost's spot at full back. He's a smart cookie, I reckon he will learn. Either that or take his normal spot back if Brown doesn't nail it down.

Goldsack did a little bit. Not very much.

Toovey was almost unsighted.

The whole side looked rusty and uncoordinated. But they found a way to beat the Hawthorn Reserves, I'm not quite sure how. Mostly by kicking it to a forward in a good position instead of landing it on Cloke's head, I think.

[Mossi]

^ this kicking to good position made sure Cloke was unsighted thorough the night!

[Member 7167]

[Mossi]

^ the mind boggles to imagine what could have been written if we had lost!!

[Gone Critical]

Freeman has missed a crucial year of football and vital development. His confidence probably needs to be regained. He will be behind the spot he entered the club 12 months ago and needs some time to make up lost ground. He is essentially a first year player and as such won't be expected to play the early rounds and if he does well in the VFL will get games during the year. If he can be someone who steps up and does better than that great but it shouldn't be a given.

We lack A grade players but not 2nd, 3rd and 4th year players jockeying for a spot in the 22. Freeman will be fine just give him time. Crazy to even think about grading him on the 1st NAB cup game.

[35forever]

The reason for the hype over Freeman was his pre-season training form where he blew everyone away and was probably the hardest worker in the side, that on top of his form in that crucial first half of his only hit-out last year made everyone sit up and take notice. If he followed this up with a couple of good performances in the NAB most people would have expected him to front up on the i/c bench come round 1.

For me I had high expectations, I was looking for 1 highlight from him and I got to see it: He walked down the race after the 4th quarter ended on his own two legs, no limp, no bandages. It was marvellous to watch!

Someone compared him to DeGoey, who really looked good, but then DeGoey played a full season of footy last year!

Freeman will likely get 2 more chances to show his fitness, speed and skill, chances he earned by working his arse of in the pre-season. If he lights up against Carlton or the Doggies he might still start Round 1 in the ones, but I certainly don't expect it. I thought he was OK last week, but then I was too busy being blown away by Paddy K, and enjoying the form of Jess White, Faz, Gault, Crisp, Grundy, Greenwood, Degoey, and stuff me even Varcoe!

Freeman will have a good year provided he retains the ability to keep those legs underneath him, his speed will be a great asset to us

[watt price tully]

[watt price tully]

[Pies2016]

I thought funkadelic was providing us with the facts and stats so we could all form our own impression anyway.