BEWARE OF THE SHOWSTOPPER
IF Thomson finds itself trailing by five points in the late stages of this weekend’s GDFL grand final, there’s every chance Daniel Freeman will be lurking to kick the winner. The 27-year-old goalsneak, pictured, who booted 219 goals across his 97 games with Ocean Grove, has already kicked the winning goal three times for the Tigers this season. He now hopes to deliver on the big stage against Inverleigh on Saturday, less than a fortnight after re-signing with the GDFL club for the 2019. “I want this flag so I can celebrate it with this group, not for myself or reputation but to celebrate this playing group that we have here,” Freeman said. “I’ve already re-signed for next year and, to be honest, I would have re-signed it (the contract) four times over because this group is so important to me. “We’re a really tight-knit group, so I couldn’t have made it to a grand final without the boys.” INVERLEIGH Int: B. Cations, D. Grozdanovski, N. Mayes, S. Bourke Emg: J. DiBlasio , R. Soldic, L. Perrett, J. Drew, N. Walsh
While Freeman’s on-field prowess is just as important to the Tigers’ dynamic as his off-field humour, he has highlighted the significance of family during his journey.
“Two years ago Reece (Holwell, co-coach) approached me to join him at Thomson, but I felt that we were a chance to win the flag at Ocean Grove, so I told him I wanted to stick around for a bit longer,” he said.
“He kept hassling me and then one night when we bumped into each other in town I told him to then ring me on the Tuesday and we’ll have a meeting.
“I’ve loved my time at Hadfield (in northern Melbourne) and Ocean Grove, but this club has taken the cake by far.
“This is a family club and when I was about to sign with Reece (Holwell), I asked if the club could sign my sisters (Jessica and Rennea) for netball.
“That was a big part of sealing the deal because family means everything for me. The rest has been history.”
Freeman leads the goalkicking at Thomson with 39, one ahead of fellow recruit Paul Davis. But he has been best remembered for being the man of the moment in the Tigers’ close contests.
“I did nothing that whole day we played Bell Post Hill (in Round 2) and then in the final two THOMSON Int: B. Gardiner, J. Trezise, F. Banfield, A. Hutchinson. Emg: A. Bowles, S. Troeth, J. Alderding, N. Scott minutes Jeremy Stacey and I kicked the sealers,” he said. “Later in the season I kicked the six goals against Werribee.
“The game was on the ropes and everything that came off the boot just went through the big sticks but it was still a full credit to the whole side.
“The delivery was spot on that day and then the next week I kicked one against (Geelong) West but it was the winner as well.
“Those three games were great, but I also enjoyed the way we strengthened as a group against Belmont, that’s when I had faith that we could do something special as a group.”