Ex-Norwood dual premiership ruckman Sam Baulderstone joins Payneham Norwood Union
Dual SANFL premiership ruckman Sam Baulderstone will join forces with an old teammate after signing with an Adelaide Footy League powerhouse.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Dual Norwood premiership ruckman Sam Baulderstone is eyeing off a coaching career but is not giving up his playing days just yet.
Baulderstone will line up with Adelaide Footy League top tier team Payneham Norwood Union after deciding to retire from the SANFL last month.
The 29-year-old – who was named the 2020 SANFL Team of the Year ruckman – will link up with good friend and former Norwood teammate, now Falcons playing coach Jace Bode.
Bode and Baulderstone played alongside each other at the Redlegs and both lined up in the back-to-back flag wins in 2013 and 2014.
Baulderstone said he still wanted to play footy but wanted to line up in a more relaxed competition.
He said he had also developed a passion for coaching and was keen to be involved in developing youngsters at PNU.
“Obviously with Jace being the coach and such a good friend, it made the decision (to join PNU) pretty easy for me,” Baulderstone said.
“(After) eight years in a pretty strict and committed environment it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to.
“I’m still fit enough to play footy and it’s obviously been a big part of my life and I don’t want to step away from it in a playing perspective just yet.
“Coaching is definitely a path I’m looking to go down and development coaching is the area that interests me the most.
“That’s probably another reason why I’ve gone to Payneham, they’ve got a large junior program.
“They’ve got some really good kids that I am looking forward to getting to work with and pass on everything I’ve been able to learn and experience over my time so they can further their footy careers.”
The 200cm ruckman, originally from Whyalla, had a short stint at North Adelaide reserves.
But when that didn’t work out, he headed to Mount Compass and played in the Great Southern Football League for two seasons.
He soon got a call up from then-Norwood coach Nathan Bassett who signed him up with the Redlegs and he led their ruck division for eight years from 2013-2020
Baulderstone, who has a six-week old daughter Delilah with his partner Amy, played 136 league games for the Redlegs and was joint vice-captain this year.
Payneham Norwood Union, meanwhile, won the Adelaide Footy League division one grand final in 2019.
But the Falcons just missed out on a finals berth this past season with Bode taking over from Norwood great Garry McIntosh as coach.
Baulderstone said he would work hard to help PNU make finals in 2021 and hopefully win another flag.
“I go there knowing it’s a strong club, I’ve got past premiership mates from Norwood who are there,” he said.
“I am still keen on success.
“I’m not at any club to lose, so if we are able to at least get to the finals next year and then potentially push for a grand final that would be great for not just the club, but the community out there at Payneham.”
