![Tom Baulch kicked 18 goals in 13 games for Wangaratta Rovers last year. Picture by Mark Jesser Tom Baulch kicked 18 goals in 13 games for Wangaratta Rovers last year. Picture by Mark Jesser](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/xtb7LvhUpWdRyX3MGXCxS3/03274929-1e35-42d9-a6d7-c60ac3f92773.jpg/r0_165_2853_1775_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The "Prime Train" has set himself a goal of playing in every state and territory this year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Tom Baulch revealed on Friday night that he wouldn't line up for Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray Football League and will instead be a gun for hire.
The social media sensation, who first gained a profile through his fitness business, revealed on Instagram that he had been booked in to play matches in Queensland, Western Australia, southern Victoria, Canada, the UK and the US.
He left the door open to commit to a club full-time once the June 30 clearance deadline had passed.
While the man with the mullet didn't quite the match the hype on the field, he did show glimpses in his 13 matches with the Hawks last season, including four goals against grand finalists Albury in round 15.
"I wouldn't say I was happy with my form, I probably wasn't 100 percent where I wanted to be in terms of life and commitment," he revealed when quizzed on his high profile Hawks' stint.
"I was beginning to burn out a little bit, it was my sixth season in a row, going to the Northern Territory and then playing down here (in the south of the country), I don't know how Brodie Filo (former Wangaratta Rovers' team-mate) does it, he's a superstar.
"With everything I had on, footy is generally one of the first things to go as a priority."
The clever forward was a six-pointer, the maximum amount, under the player points system, which generally means you have be in the top 5-10 players in the league for the club to get 'bang for its buck'.
"I would like to have my time again, I'd definitely be back to play in the O and M before my time's up," he suggested.
The 24-year-old will play in Victoria this year as part of a unique challenge.
"Something that's never been done before is playing in every state and territory for a year, so that would be really cool," he offered.
"It's not from a selfish point of view, it will showcase what these other clubs have to offer, you don't see much content on some of these clubs around Australia and some of them might really be struggling, it would be good to show a package of what these clubs have to offer and help them with recruits, hopefully for the next 5-10 years."
"Prime Train" has more than 280,000 followers on TikTok and more than 79,000 on Instagram, so his presence at a game guarantees enormous social media interest.
And while Brendan Fevola will always be 'King of the Kids' during his phenomenal four-year stint at Yarrawonga from 2012, Baulch is certainly second to the former Carlton superstar in terms of fan fanaticism with youngsters.
Meanwhile, Baulch is a driving force behind 'Run Clubs' in Melbourne.
"A run club is the new Tinder (dating app), it's a bit of an inside joke (within the fitness industry)," he laughed.
"Instead of going out on weekends and that's the way you meet people, it's a really healthy way to bring a community together.
"We go for a run, have a dip in the ocean, might do some ice baths and then pay for everyone's coffee.
"We had the St Kilda boys in last week, Meg Lanning the week before and Jack Ginnivan a fortnight ago, it's actually a good way of getting people you might think are inaccessible down to have a chat, you might explore their ideas, their content and what they're doing in life, it's a good way to meet people."
The 'run clubs' have also been held in Western Australia, while they will also be staged Bali, Tasmania and the Gold Coast.
Always positive and upbeat, Baulch has never been happier.
"I couldn't say I've ever been more fulfilled than right now," he stated.
"It's the first January when I'm not jumping into ice baths and doing 400m sprints around an oval (laughs).