Edwards-Baldwin 5th Local Product to Debut in 2018 For Subiaco

Thomas Edwards-Baldwin became the 10^th new Subiaco player to debut in 2018 after making a surprise debut appearance as a late inclusion last Saturday.

A local product of the Kingsley Junior Football Club, Edwards-Baldwin has made impressive strides in his first season as part of the senior squad after two seasons with the Subiaco Colts program.

Significantly in a positive sign for the strong work that has been put into the Subiaco Distirct, Edwards-Baldwin became the fifth locally produced player, following Ryan Borchet, Jacob Miller, Ethan Burnett and McKenzie Lawrence to debut in 2018.

It has been a somewhat unexpected rise to league football for Edwards-Baldwin, who after a solid second Colts season, where he finished seventh in fairest and best voting, has excelled entering the senior program.

“I have really enjoyed the environment around the senior group and no doubt I have certainly enjoyed my footy a lot more this year,” Edwards-Badlwin said.

Coming into his first senior pre-season with little fanfare, Edwards-Baldwin endeared himself to the Subiaco coaching staff and his teammates with his no fuss approach to his football, willingness to improve and his ability to compete at the intense level of a Subiaco pre-season.

“The club has a great group of leaders in Dela, Horse and Kitch,” Edwards-Baldwin said.

“I think when they saw me really buying into what the club is about, they really worked with me to help me improve.”

The first league game for Subiaco was a surreal one, as Edwards-Baldwin was a late inclusion for Brad Stevenson and thrust into the mix of WAFL league football.

After playing a consistent month of Reserves football and having trained alongside his league teammates, Edwards-Baldwin felt ready to make an impact in league football.

“I definitely noticed a difference in intensity,” Edwards-Baldwin said.

“Especially around the stoppages, I went to my first contest early in the game and you just had this sense of an intense feeling, it was pretty surreal to be a part of.”

Edwards-Baldwin enjoyed an outstanding first up outing for Subiaco kicking two goals in the second quarter and finishing with 13 possessions, including nine contested possessions, three tackles and those two goals.

For reference point, captain Kyal Horsley kicked two goals in his debut match and had 12 possessions.

When hearing he had pipped Horsley for debut possessions, Edwards-Baldwin said with a laugh it would be something he would have to make mention to the Subiaco captain.

Following the game it was captain Horsley who left the field alongside the debutant and had some positive encouragement for the youngster.

“Horse was great, he just told me that I had played a really good game and wanted to make sure I enjoyed the moment,” Edwards Baldwin said.

Edwards-Baldwin who is a product of the Kingsley Junior Football Club, acknowledged the time he spent with Kingsley enjoying a couple of seasons as a junior getting ready for Colts and Senior football.

The last finals football Edwards-Baldwin played was with Kingsley juniors and a Preliminary Final loss, with Edwards-Baldwin looking to join a host of his former Colts teammates in having an impact in finals for Subiaco later in the year.

Edwards-Baldwin is the 1638^th player to represent the Subiaco Football Club. The Subiaco Football Club congratulates Tom on making his league debut in 2018.