Welcome Liam Baker | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
  • IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.

Welcome Liam Baker

Baker said it was a “tough” call to leave Richmond.

“I always wanted to come back home and always dreamt of playing in front of friends and family in WA,” he said.

“I wanted to do it but it was coming to terms with it and that took the whole year pretty much.

“It says a lot about the club (that it was a difficult decision) and how good they were to me and the boys there, the players and staff were unbelievable and everyone who goes through the club will tell you the same thing.”

Hmmmmm.

Of all the player movements we have had this trade period, this move seems to be the best for our club. I loved Bakes as a player, but I think he would have been found out a bit playing in a really young developing side without the gun players around him he enjoyed earlier in his career. He would have busted his gut no doubt, but I think he would have struggled a bit.

However, one clear fact remains for me. He was overlooked in two drafts by his home state clubs. We gave him his chance at being an AFL footballer when I don't think he was on anyone else's radar. Yet he now wants to return home to play for one of those clubs.

Well good luck to you Bakes, but just remember one thing. One club backed you in and gave you the chance, the other came along with sweet talk once you had become a player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 users
Baker said it was a “tough” call to leave Richmond.

“I always wanted to come back home and always dreamt of playing in front of friends and family in WA,” he said.

“I wanted to do it but it was coming to terms with it and that took the whole year pretty much.

“It says a lot about the club (that it was a difficult decision) and how good they were to me and the boys there, the players and staff were unbelievable and everyone who goes through the club will tell you the same thing.”

So that is what Baker said when leaving, and this is what he said on the Eagles website

Baker's lifelong dream comes true​


Prized West Coast recruit Liam Baker is ‘over the moon’ to be joining the club he grew up supporting after his trade from Richmond was confirmed on Tuesday.

After a lengthy negotiation period the Eagles got the deal done by involving Carlton in a three-way trade and securing Baker’s return to WA, plus small forward Matt Owies from the Blues.

“It has been a bit of a rollercoaster but I’m over the moon,” Baker told westcoasteagles.com.au.

“This is something I’ve dreamt of my whole life playing for West Coast and it’s finally come true.

“I just can’t wait to get over there, meet a few of the boys and get stuck into pre-season."

Baker - a Lake Grace product - followed Tigers teammate Jack Graham’s move west, reuniting with their former coach and new Eagles mentor Andrew McQualter at Mineral Resources Park.

“When (McQualter’s) name was getting tossed up for the job it was something I really, really wanted but I had made my mind up that I wanted to come to West Coast, so that was just a bonus," he said.

“If the coaching decision had of been made before I made my decision I would’ve been there straight away as well.

“I couldn’t be more over the moon and I can’t wait to see what he can do with the boys.”

A dual premiership player at the Tigers after being drafted as a rookie, Baker wrestled with he decision to leave Punt Road but was excited to be joining Graham and his new teammates.

“’Fridge’ (Graham) is one of the best blokes going around at Richmond. We’re obviously very close and no one would say a bad word about him,” he said.

“I’m sure it won’t take long for the boys and staff to realise that. On the field he is a grinder. He will train his backside off, he works hard and he runs hard on the footy field.

“It’s obviously been a challenging for years for the club from what I can see but a new coach, new ideas, a bit of fresh air and the list is exciting with all the young blokes plus the top-end older guys that have been good players for so long.

“I feel like things can change quickly. I’m all for that and I can’t wait to see what can happen over the next few years.

“Obviously there is a lot of work to be done and I’m sure the group is excited about the work ahead.”
 
Well good luck to you Bakes, but just remember one thing. One club backed you in and gave you the chance, the other came along with sweet talk once you had become a player.

Oh,he remembers that for sure.

He just wants to go home to play in front of friends and family. Good luck Bakes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Thank you, Liam for your services, hopefully you don't play 100 games at your new club and this thread disappears and does not make page 1 on our forum, until your sons are drafted to the RFC as father son.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user