LAST week St Kilda coach Alan Richardson's "gut feel" was Nathan Freeman remained a week away from making his long-awaited debut and the injury-cursed midfielder responded by collecting 25 disposals at the weekend.

In Sandringham's 28-point loss to Geelong at Trevor Barker Oval on Sunday afternoon, Freeman was his side's second-biggest ball-winner behind VFL-listed player Brede Seccull (27).

Freeman, 23, was considered for selection last week against Carlton but remained on the outer.

After five straight games since returning from a left shoulder injury, the case for picking Freeman to face Richmond on Friday night at Etihad Stadium is mounting.

Against him, however, is the five-day break between him last lining up for the Zebras and the upcoming clash with the reigning AFL premiers.

Freeman's body isn't holding him back from being selected.

Rather, it's about form, as Richardson told reporters at his weekly press conference last week.

"We'd love to have him out there but we're not going to pick him until he's ready," Richardson said.

Freeman was drafted at No.10 in 2013 by Collingwood and was traded two years later.

Hamstring issues, largely to his right side, have held him back.

Surgery on the muscle in February saw a defect found, which was then fixed.

Another likely to be in the mix for the Tigers clash is Blake Acres, who played his second straight VFL match after a groin issue and picked up 21 disposals against the Cats.

Meanwhile, defender Jimmy Webster is in doubt with a right groin concern.

It is the same muscle he hurt against Gold Coast in round 13.