Former Subiaco Baker set for Richmond debut

Liam Baker is set to become the third Subiaco Lion drafted at the 2017 AFL Draft to debut at AFL level when he lines up for Richmond on Saturday.

Baker follows in the footsteps of 2017 teammates Liam Ryan and Brayden Ainsworth who have each debuted for West Coast this year.

It is set to be a memorable occasion for Baker with his debut match a blockbuster AFL Round 19 match between Richmond and Collingwood.

Richmond currently sit top while Collingwood are third, with a crowd of close to 90,000 expected for Saturday afternoon’s game.

It is a great reward for perseverance for Baker, who has finally got the ultimate opportunity he craved after missing out at under 18 level.

It is also testament to Subiaco’s ongoing potential as an AFL pathway model, with Baker’s AFL draft fortunes receiving a bolt when he joined Subiaco last year.

In his sole season playing WAFL league football, Baker played 13 games, kicked 19 goals and showed outstanding potential with his dynamic forward pressure and strong goal sense.

Having moved to Subiaco for league opportunities, they were dually presented and Baker proved his talent bursting onto the WAFL league scene with nine goals in the first three Subiaco league games he played.

Baker became a popular teammate around the Subiaco Football Club with a passionate energy and willingness to learn and embrace the Subiaco culture.

Baker was one of Subiaco’s better players in what was ultimately a losing cause to Peel in the 2017 Grand Final, with Baker having 19 possessions and laying five tackles to highlight his ability apply elite level pressure at elite competition level.

Baker’s strong season with Subiaco saw him win an AFL rookie list spot, taken at pick 18 in last year’s rookie draft by the reigning premier Richmond.

Starting with the Richmond VFL side, Baker continued his strong 2017 form, with a good start to 2018.

Through a 12 game VFL stint, Baker has averaged 20 possessions a game and has kicked 13 goals, with his most recent outing against Sandringham seeing Baker have 19 possessions and three goals backing up 24 possessions and two goals against Essendon VFL.

It is credit to the hard work that Baker has put in, that a player drafted to the reigning premier as a rookie listed player, can quickly integrate into a system and be able to make a debut for a top of the table side.

The Subiaco Football Club congratulates Baker on his achievement and all Subiaco fans will be watching with a close eye on the former number 61 on Saturday.

* Last Month, Baker appeared in a special edition of Joycey’s Clangers when Justin Joyce and Clancy Wheeler caught up with their former teammate in Melbourne.