Palmerston Magpies assistant coach Natasha Medbury says Janet Baird’s maturity will take her far in AFLW after picked up by the Gold Coast Suns in 2020 Draft

PALMERSTON star Janet Baird has shown maturity beyond her years on many occasions. She showed it when dealing with the tragic passing of her younger brother Richard and dedicating her selection as Gold Coast’s 54th pick in the 2020 AFLW Draft to him on Tuesday night. She also showed it when overcoming a torn hamstring two years ago, and again on Tuesday night when she encouraged her Magpies teammate to never give up after she missed out. And this is why her club assistant coach believes she’ll go far in the AFLW.

Palmerston star Janet Baird was all smiles after being picked up at No.54 by Gold Coast Suns in the 2020 AFLW Draft. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

GOLD Coast Suns pick-up Janet Baird’s maturity was on show as soon as the 2020 AFLW Draft ended on Tuesday night, when she went straight up to encourage Magpies teammate Freda Puruntatameri who missed out.

And it is this selfless attitude which delighted Natasha Medbury, who has been her assistant playing-coach at the black-and-white outfit.

“Janet is not even 21, but she was one of the first people to go over to Freda and encourage her,” Medbury told the NT News.

“She told her there was always next year.”

Medbury was also highly impressed with this team-first mindset from Baird, after she tore her hamstring playing for Central Allies at the NAB AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships two years ago, subsequently missing out on getting picked up in two annual drafts.

Palmerston Magpies’ Janet Baird and Buffettes’ Steph Williams dedicate their respective AFLW selections to their late siblings

Star Palmerston Magpies co-captain Janet Baird has the skills to play AFLW and the determination after overcoming a torn hamstring ahead of Combine

Buffettes star Stephanie Williams’ amazing football journey in building mental toughness to go with her eye-catching natural skills before the 2020 AFLW Draft

“As much as she just wanted to get back on the park to help her teammates, we had to keep telling her ‘don’t ruin it (AFLW chances) – you’re still young’,” Medbury, who founded the Magpies’ senior women’s team and has had plenty to do with Baird’s development as a player and person, said.

“She just wanted to help out her teammates.

“Her attitude, commitment and team values will be massive for the Suns, and she can go a really long way.”

Medbury said it was fitting that a role model such as Baird would be the club’s first AFLW representative at the Gold Coast.

Palmerston star Janet Baird celebrates with her parents Alison and Jason after being picked up by the Gold Coast Suns at No.54 in the 2020 AFLW Draft on Tuesday night. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

“It’s really special that she’ll be Palmerston’s first ever AFLW player,” Medbury said.

“She stayed at Palmerston from the juniors, right through to under-18s and senior women’s footy.

“It makes all the hard work she put in worth it, and she’s worked really hard and missed the past two drafts.

“So it’s a credit to her endeavour.”

It is not just injury which Baird has overcome to make it this far.

She dedicated her AFLW selection to her younger brother Richard on Tuesday night, who tragically drowned in 2014.

“Everyone also knows her back story after losing her little brother, so it’s a credit to her family as well,” Medbury said.

“Her and Tabby May were our co-captains last year and they’ve been amazing leaders.”

Medbury went with some of Baird’s teammates – including May – to watch the 2020 AFLW Draft coverage at the Michael Long Centre.

“We had an inkling Janet would get picked up, so it was great to be there and to show her teammates that anything is possible if you keep working at it like she did,” Medbury said.