Confirmed Liam Baker - Now a West Coast Eagle

[Jeremias]

Time for some house cleaning.

1) Do not drag discussions or individual posts over here from other threads or boards.

Feel free to respond to those posts wherever they were posted, if you so choose.

2) Enough with the personal attacks. It’s a long season and this one may go the distance, so if you want to remain a part of the discussion, do it respectfully.

We will use thread bans and infractions if necessary.

 

[Warhorse]

Are WCE fans legit paying out on Baker? It ain't his fault whatever you traded for him. That's on your club, not Baker.

You won't find a more heart and soul player, gives he all every week and is tough as nails. Will be watching from afar.

Baker refused to go unless Richmond were well compensated. WCE fans have every right to be upset and target him as a scape goat

 

[Barrybran]

Stallon you were correct, apologies. Baker is worth 14.

tigs2010, before you start the sack Clarke thread, you should know that Clarke was backed into a corner by other members of the West Coast staff. He did the best he could considering the amount of people within the club that were trying to do his job for him and really limiting his ability to do his job.

What was Clarke trying to do that didn't involve accepting unders for pick 3 and paying overs for Baker?

 

[amazingjoshy]

I think they're trying to make a reputation as a club that follows through on committments to players, over paying here might help them get a nomination next year.

An investment into not being seen as a basketcase

Yep seems like it, "commit to WC and we'll get it done"

Don't particularly agree with it as it pretty much guarantees we'll overpay for anyone, but it is a completely different set of rules trying to get players to come out West (even former West aussies)

Who wants to sit on a plane every 2nd week and shorten their career? Perhaps that fact could be acknowledged at some stage by the AFL but since our fans/members always turn up very much doubt it

 

[tiger_tough]

This has to be the most bizarre trade of the week.

In an even draft 12 and 14 for 3 doesn't seem too bad. Port with Houston and the Dogs with Smith were put in shitty spots given who they wanted to go to so those trades are understandable. Gold Coast have academy players coming out their ears so high picks are worth much less to them hence overpaying for Rioli makes sense.

But the Baker one is just bizarre. Out of contract and he nominates you. Why are you jumping through hoops to if anything pay overs for him? You've gotta wonder what's going on at the club if they're so willing to give away draft capital when they're rebuilding and they don't have much.

Because they wanted him and Freo would've pounced with pick 10 if a deal didn't get done. But I agree, they shouldn't have committed to him in the first place, it just didn't make sense for them this year.

 

[tiger_tough]

Baker refused to go unless Richmond were well compensated. WCE fans have every right to be upset and target him as a scape goat

They could have still got him without giving up pick 3 but they shat the bed.

 

[takethepowerback]

Baker refused to go unless Richmond were well compensated. WCE fans have every right to be upset and target him as a scape goat

What a strange view. Do you think Baker was pulling the strings behind trading pick 3? Do you think he specified it had to be pick 14?

WCE wanted baker, courted him, and paid in the end what they thought he was worth. Baker nor Richmond forced them to take him. What WCE paid is completely on them, and on their negotiations. They could have refused, and either Baker walks, or Richmond accept less.

 

[Future Third]

Liam Baker

7

Liam Baker

Age

26

Ht

173cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.6

4star

MG

222.2

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

7.9

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

3star

MG

191.9

3star

D

14.4

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

224.2

4star

is probably my favourite player over the past decade of watching Richmond play in multiple big, pressure-filled games.

The epitome of the "its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog" adage.

Tough
Skilled
Versatile
Never Gives Up
Always Smiling
Voted Most Courageous Player in The AFL in 2022 by all AFL peers

This is a perfect bloke to bring in as a cornerstone of a rebuild.

Eagles fans who love Australian Rules Football at its old-school best will quickly recognise this and love his spirit.