A Bit Dusty
2017🏆2019🏆2020🏆
- Oct 6, 2017
- 13,641
- 39,700
- AFL Club
- Richmond
Pick 18 Rookie Draft
Baker played a big role in his first year at Subiaco.Picture: Daniel Wilkins
Subiaco premiership coach Jarrad Schofield says his teenage small forward “terrier” Liam Baker has all the attributes to play AFL football and urged both WA clubs to look closely at the 19-year-old in today’s rookie draft.
Schofield said Baker’s efforts in big games against quality opponents should give clubs confidence he would stand up at the next level.
Baker played 13 games and kicked 19 goals for the Lions in 2017 after switching from West Perth.
“He has only been at our club for a short time but what he has shown in that time is his commitment and his want to improve his game,” Schofield said.
He believed that Baker, South Fremantle’s Sandover medallist Haiden Schloithe and Claremont’s 19-year-old league best-and-fairest winner Bailey Banfield should be near the top of the selection order among WA players today.
“The only thing that clubs may be concerned about is Liam’s stature, but he is a little terrier who can play that small forward half-forward role, which he did quite well for us,” Schofield said.
“He is one of the guys who I would expect the WA clubs should be looking at.
“I think he has shown enough to indicate he can play at the highest level. He was close to getting drafted last year and he has improved again and shown that he can play league footy.”
Bailey Banfield is another with rookie claims.Picture: Trevor Collens
Baker laid 19 tackles in three finals with the Lions and kicked three goals against South Fremantle in the preliminary final.
“I am confident he is good enough to go. I just hope he doesn’t have to wait another 12 months for it to happen,” Schofield said.
Baker played a big role in his first year at Subiaco.Picture: Daniel Wilkins
Subiaco premiership coach Jarrad Schofield says his teenage small forward “terrier” Liam Baker has all the attributes to play AFL football and urged both WA clubs to look closely at the 19-year-old in today’s rookie draft.
Schofield said Baker’s efforts in big games against quality opponents should give clubs confidence he would stand up at the next level.
Baker played 13 games and kicked 19 goals for the Lions in 2017 after switching from West Perth.
“He has only been at our club for a short time but what he has shown in that time is his commitment and his want to improve his game,” Schofield said.
He believed that Baker, South Fremantle’s Sandover medallist Haiden Schloithe and Claremont’s 19-year-old league best-and-fairest winner Bailey Banfield should be near the top of the selection order among WA players today.
“The only thing that clubs may be concerned about is Liam’s stature, but he is a little terrier who can play that small forward half-forward role, which he did quite well for us,” Schofield said.
“He is one of the guys who I would expect the WA clubs should be looking at.
“I think he has shown enough to indicate he can play at the highest level. He was close to getting drafted last year and he has improved again and shown that he can play league footy.”
Bailey Banfield is another with rookie claims.Picture: Trevor Collens
Baker laid 19 tackles in three finals with the Lions and kicked three goals against South Fremantle in the preliminary final.
“I am confident he is good enough to go. I just hope he doesn’t have to wait another 12 months for it to happen,” Schofield said.
