Young St Kilda midfielder Nathan Freeman has suffered a minor setback in his return from chronic hamstring issues, with the club electing to continue to take the cautious route with the former top-ten draft pick.
The 20-year-old has endured a frustrating start to his AFL career, but looked to have turned the corner a few weeks ago when he collected 46 possessions in three quarters playing for Sandringham’s reserves in his first game of 2016, before the training mishap last week.
Given Freeman’s extensive injury history, General Manager of Football Performance Jamie Cox said the Saints will pull the reigns on their off-season recruit, before building him back up to play in a couple of week’s time.
“Nathan Freeman experienced some awareness in his hamstring last week during training,” Cox told saints.com.au.
“Due to his history we’ll slow him down a bit and we’ll put him back into training for a week or two and really build him back up to play again hopefully in a couple of weeks.”
Decorated utility Leigh Montagna departed last Sunday’s game midway through the last quarter after experiencing some hamstring tightness.
Cox said the 32-year-old, who has been in blistering form playing off a half-back flank this season, will undergo a fitness test at Thursday’s main training session before being declared available to face the Demons on Saturday.
“Leigh Montagna left the ground late last week with some hamstring tightness. He’s pulled up pretty well, and he’s pretty durable ‘Joey’, but we’ll test him on Thursday,” Cox said.
“If he’s right he’ll come up and play, if he’s not he’ll miss a week. But we’re still hopeful he’ll be okay.”
After injuring the medial ligament in his knee against Collingwood in Round 3, rebounding defender Dylan Roberton is on track to return next weekend against North Melbourne.
“Dylan Roberton is rehabbing really well. He looks like he’ll certainly be a test next week, prior to our game before North Melbourne. He’s on track to only miss another week,” Cox said.
Injury List
Leigh Montagna - Test
Nathan Freeman - Indefinite
Dylan Roberton - 1-2 weeks
Nick O'Kearney - Available
Brenton Payne - Available
