TWO YEARS ago, country footballer Sam Baulderstone decided to streamline his 150kg frame because he feared he would suffer a premature death.

That critical decision led to a remarkable turnaround, with the 24-year-old ruckman considered a chance to be picked up in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

It didn't work out that way, with Baulderstone missing out on being selected, but his lifestyle change remains critical to his future.

Baulderstone, who was playing for the small town of Mount Compass, 47km south of Adelaide, in 2012, has stripped more than 40kg from his 200cm frame to play in two SANFL premierships with Norwood.

This year he finished equal third in the Magarey Medal, the SANFL's highest individual award, and was selected in the league's team of the year.

"The last two years have basically been a fairytale," Baulderstone told SEN on Wednesday morning.

"It's a lifestyle change as well. You're not really going anywhere at that sort of weight - your life's sort of heading for an early end. That was one of the main reasons (to lose weight).

"The other reason was I obviously wanted to see how far I could take my football and where it could lead me."