Liam Baker has played various roles for West Coast this year, mostly at half back and/or on ball, but last week he started on a half forward flank in a position most recently filled by Tim Kelly, who had gone back to the WAFL to find form. Even though the Eagles have lost a lot of soldiers in their front six this year, Baker turned out one of the most impressive quarters from anyone for the season in Q1, scything passes to leading forwards and using excellent vision to spot up target passing around the 50m arc. Is this his best position in the West, or will Kelly regain it this week?
Liam Baker has played various roles for West Coast this year, mostly at half back and/or on ball, but last week he started on a half forward flank in a position most recently filled by Tim Kelly, who had gone back to the WAFL to find form. Even though the Eagles have lost a lot of soldiers in their front six this year, Baker turned out one of the most impressive quarters from anyone for the season in Q1, scything passes to leading forwards and using excellent vision to spot up target passing around the 50m arc. Is this his best position in the West, or will Kelly regain it this week?
Liam Baker is in a contract year and has passed the eight-year threshold for being a free agent under current AFL rules, making him a hot property on the transfer market which seems to be a 12-month industry these days. Richmond's execrably long injury list has meant he has been shifted off a flank to central midfield, a position which shows off his skill set to the maximum. As such, he was attracting significant fantasy interest already, but as the drum beats get louder about his contract, the likelier we will see the best out of him as he chases the dollar.
Liam Baker is probably the Richmond player most likely to take the mantle left by the retirement this week of Kane Lambert. No player exactly matches the skill set of another, of course, but Lambert played a particular role off a HFF and rotating into the middle that was key in the Tigers' premiership run, and coach Damien Hardwick has been searching for a replacement ever since Lambert's knee problems slowed him down. Baker's talents probably lie more towards the flanker side of that role, making him a questionable every-week fantasy play.
Liam Baker has recently moved from half back to half forward, and in the first week in that new position he was best on ground in a famous victory over the Giants, posting a big fantasy ton in the process. Last week in a loss to Brisbane he reverted to his usual production, which is about average in basic statistical terms to the average flanker. His worth to Richmond in the Damien Hardwick structure comes in one-on-one contests won, which is not always reflected in kicks and marks as he can tend to set up others rather than take the spoils himself. Avoid for regular fantasy use.
Baker gets the chocolates
A ten-game senior stint from rounds 4 through 13 last year produced a goal tally of 8.10 from an average of 18 disposals, which was good enough to vault Liam Baker into low-end fantasy relevance as a small forward. Then came a short demotion to the VFL, after which he returned in round 18 in a new half back role which he filled all the way through to the grand final at about the same possession rate. Baker appears to be one of those players who will get his fair share of the footy no matter which part of the ground he starts in, a level which may not be particularly exciting for fantasy owners but with an average that can't be ignored as a starting option as it is double digits over the baseline for his position. Dual eligibility adds a little more to his draft value, making him a useful late-round roster filler.
Baker burns his chance
After some hot July form in the VFL, Liam Baker got three senior games through August for a scoreboard return of 1.4 with a total of four tackles, then was dropped for finals. Baker's one-wood is score involvements, of which he got a few in the seniors. His gamestyle does not endear himself to fantasy coaches, like so many other small Tiger forwards.
Time in oven for Baker
Playing small forward for the Subiaco firsts team in the WAFL, Liam Baker averaged a goal or two per game from 16 disposals including one bag of five. Baker's weight suggests he will need a bit of time to acclimatise to AFL conditions, even though he was playing against men last year. Players of his type are usually not fantasy factors in their first year.
