A fighting fit Sam Baulderstone at Norwood Oval. Picture: Luke Hemer. THIS time last year he was a 140kg SA country footballer, but a stunning transformation has seen Sam Baulderstone leap into AFL calculations. The 22-year-old shed a remarkable 28kg from his 200cm frame over pre-season and has played three SANFL league games with Norwood this year. That came after the talented ruckman spent a day at Essendon over the summer, remarkably after being spotted by Bombers recruiting officer Merv Keane playing in the state country football championship in NSW. The Bombers flew the then-massively framed Baulderstone to Melbourne for a series of tests last October. Essendon overlooked him at the AFL drafts but the phone call from Keane and subsequent trip to Windy Hill changed Baulderstone's attitude completely. "I was eating whenever I wanted, whenever," says Baulderstone, a self-confessed fast-food junkie. I didn't really care ... Sam Baulderstone at his top weight playing for Mount Compass in 2011. It was definitely a surprise getting the phone call. Everyone knew I was an Essendon supporter so I thought people were joking around. Once they (Essendon) came and watched me, that was when I decided I was going to take 2013 seriously and really give footy a crack. I changed my lifestyle, became healthier and started doing all the right things. Norwood was one of four SANFL clubs that contacted Baulderstone at the end of last season, which he spent playing for Mt Compass in the Great Southern Football League. He quickly broke into the Redlegs' league ranks this year and impressed before injuring his hand on Anzac Day against West Adelaide, sidelining him until next month. I had interest from a few (SANFL) clubs but it was hard to turn a premiership club down. Baulderstone shed 10kg after starting on Norwood's individual fitness program in October and another 18kg after joining pre-season training. "The kilos just fell off," he said. I was running roughly 20km a week. Now I can get around the ground more, can stay out there for sustained periods and I can get through games well. His stint at Norwood is Baulderstone's second shot in the SANFL after he played reserves for North Adelaide in 2008-09. Whyalla-raised, he regretted not making a better fist of his time with the Roosters after moving to Adelaide to live with his grandparents. "It was a bit of immaturity when I was younger - I didn't realise what was there and the opportunities I had," he said. And Baulderstone says he is determined to make the most of his second chance at success. Getting drafted to the AFL is his dream but if it does not happen he is "happy to play 10 years with Norwood." "I'm a lot happier, I'm enjoying my footy and I feel healthy,"he said.