WEST COAST’S BAKER PLOY
HEART-AND-SOUL Tigers utility Liam Baker is genuinely torn between remaining a “Richmond man” and returning to West Australia to kickstart a long career as a West Coast Eagle.
Baker has a tough decision ahead of him after winning two premierships at Richmond, with the Tigers attempting to re-sign him for the past 18 months.
Instead he has held off amid interest from the Eagles, his favourite club as a kid in Pingaring, east of Perth.
The 24-year-old would likely secure a pay rise from the Eagles, who believe his energy and versatility would bring the freshness to their list they so badly need.
His Perth-based management is set to arrive in Melbourne this week with Richmond still confident of retaining a player they secured at pick 18 in the 2018 rookie draft.
Coach Damien Hardwick believes he exemplifies a “Richmond man”, which sums up the manner in which he wants his players to act on and off the field.
While Baker has long been Richmond’s Mr Fixit, his capacity to move into the midfield in recent weeks makes him a much more valuable proposition.
He changed the game after being pushed into the centre square against Geelong when Dion Prestia was concussed, with 24 disposals, seven clearances and 14 contested possessions.
Baker played midfield in round 1, forward from rounds 2-6, back from rounds 7-11 and from rounds 13-15 has played in all areas of the ground.
Richmond would drive a hard bargain with the Eagles if he did decide to leave but they are hopeful he will want to chase more premiership success.
The club is yet to make decisions on senior players Jack Riewoldt, Trent
Cotchin, Kane Lambert and Shane Edwards.
Daniel Rioli is also putting off contract talks as he changes management to Kapital Sports – where
Peter Lenton also looks after his close relative Maurice Rioli.
Both players are off contract but it would be unlikely they would leave given their close links to Richmond.