Liam Baker [merged]

[one-eyed]

From Barrett's 'Sliding Doors' column today:

RICHMOND

IF ... there's one selection in round 19 we love ...

THEN ... it's Liam Baker in for his debut. Won't know what hit him in front of 90,000.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-27/sliding-doors-round-19

[one-eyed]

How did we all see Baker's debut?

Had a couple of chances to kick goals but rushed the kick being not use to the quicker tempo.

[Owl]

He was stuffing awesome and will only get better.

[Slipper]

Looks a very promising prospect.

Thought he played well today, given the intense nature of the game. Not out of place at all.

[pmac21]

Got caught out with the the pace of the game but will get better

[big tone]

Very impressive debut imo.

Looks very much at home at AFL level.

Smart footballer.

Did a lot of small things that don’t necessarily go down on the stat sheet which just showed me he understands the footy we play at Richmond.

Looking forward to seeing a lot more of him.

[Lebowski]

Really good debut in a massive fame, wasn’t overawed either. Once his conditioning gets to afl level he’ll be a very useful player

[big tone]

Really good debut in a massive fame, wasn’t overawed either. Once his conditioning gets to afl level he’ll be a very useful player

He was out on his feet in the last. Completely stuffed.
At least now he knows the level he needs to get to fitness wise.

[Chuck17]

Hope he gets another game

Still a bit off it but looks the goods

[Tigeritis™©®]

He was a little unlucky that he wasn’t able to kick a goal as he rushed it a bit. Probably overawed by the speed of the game.

 Personality I think Stengle is ahead of him as a small forward but I wouldn’t know for sure if Stengle has the tank required for a full game of AFL footy.

[big tone]

He was a little unlucky that he wasn’t able to kick a goal as he rushed it a bit. Probably overawed by the speed of the game.

 Personality I think Stengle is ahead of him as a small forward but I wouldn’t know for sure if Stengle has the tank required for a full game of AFL footy.

Were you at the game or did you watch it on TV?
Imo from watching him live he was very “one touch” especially early when he wasn’t completely stuffed.

I haven’t watched the replay yet but sometimes it can show something completely different to what you see live.

Anyway I recon he showed enough to get another crack at it next week.

[Tigeritis™©®]

He was a little unlucky that he wasn’t able to kick a goal as he rushed it a bit. Probably overawed by the speed of the game.

 Personality I think Stengle is ahead of him as a small forward but I wouldn’t know for sure if Stengle has the tank required for a full game of AFL footy.

Were you at the game or did you watch it on TV?
Imo from watching him live he was very “one touch” especially early when he wasn’t completely stuffed.

I haven’t watched the replay yet but sometimes it can show something completely different to what you see live.

Anyway I recon he showed enough to get another crack at it next week.

I was there. Great atmosphere. B
The youngster was ok but was a bit rushed imo. Looked like he was just a little off pace but that’s ok he’ll get used to it soon enough. He’s definitely no squib. I liked how he’s not scared to go in for the footy and that showed today.

I’d also like to see Stengle have a crack too. He’s a tackling machine and a very clever player.

[one-eyed]

Hardwick had no qualms about backing in the 20-year-old Liam Baker on the big stage again.

“I thought he was really good,” Hardwick said.

“He probably just didn’t capitalise on the scoreboard a couple of times, which he normally would.

“He was probably trying to get rid of the ball a little bit quicker. There’s a stark difference in speed of game in AFL compared to the VFL.

“He’ll be better for the run.

“But we were really pleased with his work rate and his ability to get to contests.

“He did that really well and we think he’s going to be a good player for us.”

https://thewest.com.au/sport/richmond-tigers/wa-rookie-liam-baker-holds-spot-for-high-flying-richmond-against-geelong-ng-b88915858z

[Thrasher97]

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2018-09-03/baker-offered-vfl-suspension

Has been suspended for 1 match. Utter garbage!

[one-eyed]

Rookie set to pen new deal at Tigerland

Jennifer Phelan and Mitch Cleary
afl.com.au
Sep 17, 2018 4:02PM

YOUNG Richmond forward Liam Baker will be retained as a rookie on the Tigers' list in 2019 after an impressive debut season.

It is understood the 20-year-old West Australian has agreed to terms for a second year as a rookie following his promising introduction to AFL football.

He was one of three Richmond debutants in 2018, along with Jack Higgins and Ryan Garthwaite, after he broke through for his first game in round 19.

He played three AFL games in total and averaged more than four scoring involvements across them before he returned to the VFL where he was played as both a genuine forward and in midfield roles throughout the season.

A one-match VFL suspension ruled him out of the AFL side's first final against Hawthorn and the VFL semi-final against Essendon.

But he has continued to train with the extended squad in the hope of an unlikely call-up given the strong health of the AFL team's list.

His re-signing follows on from last week's triple hit of recommitments from young defender Oleg Markov and veteran pair Bachar Houli and Shaun Grigg.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-17/rookie-set-to-pen-new-deal-at-tigerland