BIO

Sam Baulderstone played his early football in Whyalla and in 2007 the 200cm ruckman won a flag with Central Whyalla before moving to Adelaide and joining the North Adelaide Roosters. He played in the North Adelaide reserves in 2008-2009 and then moved to Mount Compass in the Great Southern Football League.

In 2013 Baulderstone transferred to Norwood and made his SANFL senior debut. He played nine league games and 10 reserves games in his first year at The Parade and led the first ruck in Norwood's comfortable victory against North Adelaide in the grand final.

Baulderstone continued with 21 league games in 2014 and proved to be a vital cog in the Redlegs thrilling grand final win against arch-rivals the Port Adelaide Magpies.

He was a solid performer in 2015 (17 games) and was runner-up in the club champion award in 2016 (18 games). He reached his 50 game milestone early in the season and was rated by most supporters as the leading big man in the competition. He was also named in the state team that defeated Victoria in 2016.

Capable of rucking all day, he was also an  excellent kick around the ground. Remarkably consistent, he rarely had his colours lowered.

In 2017, Baulderstone was again runner-up to the club champion (19 games).

The following year he made 19 appearances and reached the 100 game milestone.

Still in fine form, Baulderstone was again runner-up in the 2019 and 2020 club champion awards.

He retired from the SANFL at the end of the 2020 season and moved to Payneham Norwood Union FC in the Adelaide Footy League (Division 1).

In 2022 he joined Glenelg FC as an assistant coach.

R Cialini May 2023