Palmerston Magpies star Janet Baird ready and confident ahead of Gold Coast Suns’ pre-season

PALMERSTON star Janet Baird played her last Premier League game for her junior club last Saturday, and confidence from that game – and her Territory football career – will now follow her down to the Gold Coast Suns.

A delighted Palmerston star Janet Baird pictured after she was picked up by Gold Coast Suns in the 2020 AFLW Draft. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

PALMERSTON star Janet Baird played her last Premier League game for her junior club last Saturday, and confidence from that game – and her Territory football career – will now follow her down to the Gold Coast Suns.

Baird, 20, and the Suns’ 54th pick in the 2020 AFLW Draft earlier this month, kicked a goal and was among her team’s best in the Magpies’ big 87-point win over Tracy Village in Round 4 Women’s Premier League action.

It was a positional change the midfielder relished before the Suns’ pre-season begins on Wednesday.

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 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

“I had a go a full forward, so credit to the girls for playing other positions,” Baird told the NT News.

“The aim was for me to kick some goals and go down to the Gold Coast with some confidence.

“I’m as fit as I’ve ever been, and keen to show that I belong at that (AFLW) level.”

It is this relaxed-but-focused attitude which Baird will be encouraged to bring with her in the Sunshine State.

“Lakey (Suns coach David Lake) has told me to just relax and play my own style of footy,” Baird said.

The skilful and tough footballer said her Magpies teammates can build on that big victory over Tracy Village, despite her absence for the rest of their 2020-21 campaign.

Palmerston star Janet Baird with her ecstatic family after getting picked up by Gold Coast Suns in the 2020 AFLW Draft. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

“(Co-captain) Tabby May has been one of our more consistent players over the past two years, and Shanoah Leedie is another one,” Baird said.

“It was great to get our first win of the season, especially with a lot of girls playing in different positions all over the ground, and I think we’ve got a great backline and forward line.”

Baird stuck solid with Palmerston throughout her junior and senior NTFL career.

And her 2020 AFLW Draft selection by the Suns was a just reward for her persistence and club loyalty.

It has been well documented the injury setbacks she has endured in her journey towards becoming a professional footballer, including a torn hamstring in 2018.

“There have been times where the commitment at training at the club was questionable, and we were only getting two or three girls to training,” Baird said.

“(But) I think we’ve now got the best under-15s and 18s in the competition at our club.

“And I’ve always wanted to give back to this club.

“It was good to have a few drinks with the girls after my last game with them last Saturday.”

Baird said her Magpies teammates were capable of giving the star studded and second-placed St Mary’s outfit a run for its money at TIO Oval 2 in Round 5 action on Saturday night.

“I have full faith my teammates can do well without me,” she said.