Baynen Lowe joins The Redlegs Review

Norwood midfielder Baynen Lowe has opened up on his off-season shoulder injury and return to football in a wide-ranging chat on the latest edition of the Redlegs Review podcast, available now on Spotify.

A member of the SANFL Team of the Year in 2024, Lowe injured his shoulder while trialing for a list spot at Perth AFL club Fremantle over the pre-season which saw him miss the first six matches of this season.

The 177cm dynamo returned in the Round 7 loss to Central District and was a key member in Norwood’s 104-point win over West Adelaide last weekend.

“Last year we had a couple of nice wins that were probably pushing 100 points, but to finally crack the 100-point mark, it’s going to be a really good confidence builder for us,” Lowe told the Redlegs Review podcast.

“Winning by that margin isn’t easy to do, especially in a year where we are continuing to build but we haven’t got that reward yet.

“The things we’re doing out on the track are showing us that if we do the things that we train and are required to do, that the results will come and that’s something that we’ve definitely taken a lot of confidence from.”

In particular, Lowe was impressed with Norwood’s defensive performance, holding the Bloods to just 25 points for the game.

“We can talk about the scoring aspect all we like, but we’ve probably been known for our defensive efforts over the last few years, and that’s something we’ve wanted to continue this year, especially over the last few weeks where we probably let that slide early days,” he said.

“We focused on contest and defensive-minded efforts, and that’s something we continue to show in our reviews, which has been really good and given us really good feedback that this is the stuff we want to support and get around.”

Speaking after his second game back from the shoulder injury, Lowe revealed he struggled at times to watch his team from the stands, but singled out the work of club chaplin Andrew Aish in helping him to remain calm.

“I tend to try and stand by myself at times. Aishy has been really good for me as that support, because I can get frustrated at times and he’s been someone that’s right next to me and we can have a bit of a laugh about a few things, but it’s definitely much easier being out on the ground than up in the stands.”

One player who was pivotal in Lowe’s recovery was the injury-plagued Cory Stockdale, who provided Lowe with tremendous motivation while in rehab.

“He has got no limits, Stocky, he just continues to push, which was something that I needed. I would feel a bit tired, but we’d have a couple of 200s to do in a certain time and he’d try and push the limits a little bit, where I’m probably the opposite.

“He comes out to training and it just lifts a little bit because of the intensity he trains with and the passion he has, so we’re only going to be better for his return.”

Lowe also recounted his emotions and thoughts as he closed in on his return for the Round 7 clash against Central District a fortnight ago.

“For me, the last few months have been purely focused on trying to get back to play, so the rehab side of things with the return date being Round 7.”

“It genuinely got to the Thursday night before the Friday game where it was the first time where I’m like ‘ok, I’m playing’, so it was less than 24 hours to focus on what it felt like to play again.”

Lowe gathered 20 disposals, four clearances, five inside 50s and six tackles in his return match, but outlined some areas he wanted to improve.

“While I was out there I felt like I was just ball-watching a little bit, so it did take time to really find my focus and get back into the swing of things, but I definitely felt a bit more comfortable on the weekend (against West Adelaide), but still a long way to go though, that’s for sure.”

Playing his first match in eight months, Lowe admitted that he pulled up quite sore following the game against Central, but noted that his shoulder felt fine.

“It was a strange one. The shoulder was the issue (going into the game), but everything else was sore except the shoulder on the Saturday after the game, which was a weird one,” Lowe told the Redlegs Review podcast.

Originally from Devonport on Tasmania’s north coast, Lowe is one of numerous players to make the trip from the Apple Isle to The Parade, which made the journey much easier.

“Through the Tassie Devils Under 18 program I got to know Oliver Sanders quite well and played a little bit with (Jackson) Callow, but then from down south, George McLeod, Dom White and those sort of guys.”

“Obviously there is a bit of a relationship and connection there because you know what they are going through living away from home and you sort of have that little bit of a bond as well as you do with the likes of Billy Cootee, who have come over as well, who is a good mate of mine now.”

Now in his fourth season at The Parade, Lowe has settled in well to life in Adelaide and plans to stay here for another few years at least.

“I came over with a plan that I may be here for a year or two and see how I find it. Purely because I love my hometown back in Devonport, I couldn’t imagine being away from friends and family for too long.”

“But I’m slowly adapting to Adelaide lifestyle and the high standard of footy. There is nothing better than coming out to The Parade and playing in front of a couple of thousand people each week.

“I was lucky enough in 2022 to win a flag and that just helped create better mates in terms of just understanding them on a deeper level with how much time we spent after that grand final and I’m lucky that I’ve got a couple of Tassie friends come over with me that we continue to build on each year.

“We love it, to be honest, and I don’t see myself anywhere else over the next few years for sure, so definitely building a life here and definitely love Adelaide.”

Norwood now face the undefeated Sturt in a monster King’s Birthday Monday game at Unley Oval, but Lowe says his team’s confidence is high heading into the clash.

“There is a bit of confidence from the weekend, but we’ve been building that confidence over the last few weeks now, so we’re ready for the challenge.”

“Obviously, it’s going to be a big one. They’re a great side and they have been over the last few years since I’ve been here, so they’re a group that you really respect, but we’re ready for the challenge.”

Listen to Baynen Lowe’s full interview on the Redlegs Review podcast here.