By Tyler Lewis
Riley Baldi was one of the many unlucky 2019 AFL draftees, but after demonstrating his raw talent in the early stages of the year for the Casey Demons, he is on his way to a prolific career at an elite level.
In 2019, Baldi represented Vic Country, was selected to compete at the National Combine and was one of the Gippsland Power’s most influential assets at NAB League level, but in late November, his name wasn’t heard.
“Missing the first half of the season, probably the first five games probably hurt a little bit,” he told the Gazette.
“But in saying I felt that I was a bit fresher coming into the back end of the season and able to perform.
“I would say I had a pretty consistent year and I felt like I developed from the year before.
“I always knew I was going to be on the fringe of getting picked up or not, I wasn’t confident, but I wouldn’t say I wasn’t confident – I was just taking everything in my stride, trying to relish the opportunities.”
While missing out on the draft was something that disappointed him, Baldi was just as happy to hear his close friends Brock Smith and Sam Flanders’ name called as much as his own.
“Once I didn’t hear my name, it was an upsetting time; you sort of have a hope the next day it might happen,” he said.
“But it made it a lot easier seeing a few of my mates getting picked up along the way, being able to celebrate them over the two to three days was a good thing.
“I guess there is a bit of envy there if anything, but I was stoked for them to go, I couldn’t be happier they all went and if I had my time over again, I would put them still going (on to AFL level).
“They got there opportunity, hopefully I can get there one day.
“For it to not happen was upsetting, but at the same time, I went over to Sam (Flanders) and Brock’s (Smith) house and got around them, I was just as excited for them as they were.”
Baldi has put pen to paper down at Casey Fields and is expected to don the red and blue threads early in the season in what is a mini accomplishment in an otherwise enormous year for Baldi who has many goals he wants to check off this season.
“Building up my speed was one of the main things I didn’t get drafted for,” he said.
“Showing them I can I compete against the bigger bodies, the men that play VFL. To go through that, obviously is sad, but I like to use it as motivation as well to keep pushing myself to try and get to the next level.
“I wouldn’t say I feel as though it is a redemption year, but it is a motivation for me to prove people wrong, I use that as motivation to show I can do it.”
The Demons take on the Frankston Dolphins in the opening round on Saturday 4 April, a match Baldi will be pushing to be a part of.
