Almost five years after being drafted, Nathan Freeman will finally make his AFL debut when St Kilda host the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old's time in the AFL system has been cruelled by injuries but strong form in the VFL has earned him a long-awaited senior berth.
A whopping 423 players have made their AFL debuts since Freeman was taken by Collingwood in the 2013 draft.
The midfielder was traded to St Kilda two years later but continued to be plagued by hamstring issues and spent most of this year sidelined by a shoulder injury.
Freeman's confirmed debut continues a week of AFL comebacks led by Sydney's Alex Johnson, who has undergone 12 knee operations since last playing in the 2012 grand final.
Adelaide are set to welcome back Brodie Smith in his first game since rupturing his ACL during last year's qualifying final.
