Matthew Clarke has stepped down as Adelaide’s AFL ruck coach to focus solely on coaching the club’s women’s team.
Clarke had been performing dual roles as the men’s ruck coach and women’s head coach since the AFLW’s inception in 2017.
Baulderstone was regarded as among the SANFL’s finest ruckmen during a 137-game career at Norwood which featured two flags.
Since retiring in 2020, Baulderstone has worked for the past two years as midfield coach of reigning SANFL premiers Glenelg.
Adelaide’s head of football Adam Kelly said Baulderstone’s appointment would enable Clarke, a qualified veterinarian nicknamed Doc, to shift his year-round focus to the AFLW program.
“The appointment comes as a result of the increasing demands on our AFLW head coach, Doc Clarke, and his dedication to that role,”
A five-goal haul from Nick Larkey amid an impressive pre-season victory over an understrength Collingwood has North Melbourne optimistic they can fire some shots in their upcoming AFL campaign.
After a career-best 2023 season, where Larkey booted 71 goals and earned his maiden All-Australian berth, the key forward was clearly the difference in a 15.12 (102) to 10.8 (68) win.
“Finally some good service for Nick Larkey,” boom youngster George Wardlaw said at Olympic Park Oval.
“I think he’s pretty happy with it at the moment. Hopefully he can kick a few more goals this year.”
