Norwood’s Sam Baulderstone on AFL rookie draft radar after successful rise through SANFL
NORWOOD ruckman Sam Baulderstone could be Shane Mumford 2.0 after shedding more than 30kg in pursuit of his AFL dream. Check out how he looks now.
Draft news
Don't miss out on the headlines from Draft news. Followed categories will be added to My News.
BY LATER this morning Sam Baulderstone might be one of the most remarkable stories in AFL draft history but right now the 24-year-old is taking nothing for granted.
The dual-Norwood premiership ruckman has been linked to at least two AFL clubs in recent days and is considered a strong chance being signed at today’s rookie draft.
If he did land on an AFL list, it would surely complete the biggest transformation in AFL history.
ROOKIE GEMS: BIG MEN BARGAINS
A reformed fast food junkie, Baulderstone weighed 150kg at his heaviest and was lumbering around country ovals at more than 140kg a little over two years ago.
Even at that weight, the highly-skilled left footer could play and a stand-out performance at the 2012 SA country football championships caught the eye of Essendon.
The Bombers weren’t about to draft the big man at that weight but their interest sparked a stunning change in Baulderstone.
He ditched the fast food diet, headed to The Parade and dropped more than 30kg.
His performance in September’s SANFL grand final was pivotal and the 200cm giant is on the radars of clubs looking to bolster their ruck stocks.
One club scouring the state league to bolster its ruck stocks after the defection of Paddy Ryder to Port, is Essendon.
Baulderstone confirmed he’d been in talks with an AFL club in recent days and had his fingers cross.
“When you’re in communication with a club only a day or two before the draft, it means you’ve got a chance but with the AFL anything can happen,’’ Baulderstone said.
Adelaide is another club seeking a ruckman but Baulderstone said he’d had no indication the Crows were considering him.
He is one of a number of mature-age SANFL players awaiting word on their footballing futures this morning.
West Adelaide’s Jon Beech may get a chance after reportedly impressing the Crows in training in recent weeks.
Norwood’s Matt Panos, Port Magpies Nathan Krakouer, Central’s Josh Glenn and South’s Keegan Brooksby and Brett Eddy are also in the mix.
Under-age players overlooked in the national draft also have their fingers crossed with Peter Bampton (Norwood), Tom Read (Sturt), Jake Johansen and Keenan Ramsey (Port), and Oleg Markov (North Adelaide) candidates.
FOLLOW THE ROOKIE DRAFT LIVE BELOW:
Ranking points: Blues’ father-sons star as ruckman pushes No.1 case
Two Blues-linked father-son prospects – one for this year and one for next – starred for Vic Country as a big man pushed his case to be the No.1 pick. See the full ranking points and scouting notes.
AFL Draft watch: Inside word on U18 Suns Academy superstars
Gold Coast’s under-18 men’s academy is stacked with talented stars who are set to take the AFL world by storm in years to come. With the 2025 AFL Draft only a few months away, we profile every player in the Suns Academy.