ST KILDA’s medical team did its due diligence before the club committed to Nathan Freeman, according to Chief Operating Officer Ameet Bains.

The 20-year-old was officially traded to the Saints from Collingwood on Tuesday morning after the speedy winger requested a move last month.

He has managed just four games in two years due to persistent hamstring troubles at the Magpies, but is seen as a potentially damaging midfielder with elite speed and power.

“Our medical department has spent quite a bit of time with him prior to us committing to Nathan,” Bains told SEN Radio on Tuesday.

“With that in mind they are comfortable that they can treat him and get him right locally for round one next year.

“He will be on a modified program based on the amount of football he’s missed over the past two seasons. Based on the advice we have from our own doctors, they expect him to be ready for round one.”

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Bains said he expects Freeman to overcome his soft tissue complaints and regain the form that saw him drafted with pick 10 in the 2015 National Draft.

“We can all see that he was a really fine player in his draft year and his under 18 form was fantastic,” he said.

“We were fortunate that we were on the same page as Collingwood for much of our negotiation. The fact other things were going on meant this trade took a little bit longer than what we thought it would… We felt that the second round pick was about right.”

Freeman is currently holidaying in Ireland and will return to the club for pre-season training alongside the rest of the 1-4 year players on November 9.

The remaining five-plus year players will return on November 23. 

Nathan Freeman key stats:

Born: June 16, 1995

Height: 183cm

Weight: 83kg

Junior clubs: Dingley/Sandringham U18