Revealed: The heartbreaking reason AFL star is the only player in his team who wears a black armband every game
Baker, 27, has been on the fringes for his entire footy career following his debut with Melbourne in 2018.
He is yet to chalk up 50 appearances, but is a fan favourite thanks to his energy and tenacity.
Born in Queensland, he was cut from the Brisbane Lions academy in 2015 and privately feared his footy career was over before it started.
Baker's life was then turned upside down in 2017 when his mother Trudie died of cancer - and the black tape is a nod to her each time he steps out onto the field.
'Mum in many ways was my biggest supporter,' he said in an interview on the Demons website after he was drafted.
'One of the last things I said to Mum before she passed was "I'll achieve my AFL dream and get onto an AFL list".
'She would be unbelievably proud.'
Baker then moved to the Western Bulldogs in 2023, but opportunities have been scarce.
Off contract at the end of the season, Baker knows big performances leading into September could result in finals footy - and potentially a new deal, be it under Luke Beveridge or elsewhere next year.
Meanwhile, Beveridge has refused to confirm if the Bulldogs are interested in Carlton star Jack Silvagni.
Collingwood and Essendon are also said to be interested in adding the defender to their roster for 2026 and beyond.
'I think with any free agent like Jack, every club's antenna is up,' Beveridge said ahead of his team's clash against the Demons on Sunday at the MCG.
'But I've always maintained the line of not talking about who we're chatting with behind the scenes, just purely out of respect for our playing group.
'Some of our lads (are) still uncontracted, they don't need to be thinking too much about who might take their spot.
'And also probably out of respect for someone like Jack....in that he's got to spend time at his current club, if he is planning to move on.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
Goalkeeper Connelly joins Airdrie on loan
Motherwell goalkeeper Matty Connelly has joined Championship outfit Airdrieonians on loan for the 22-year-old made his Motherwell debut in the League Cup this summer and has previously spent time on loan at Gretna, East Kilbride, Stranraer and has been backed by Fir Park boss Jens Berthel Askou to return "better, stronger and wiser" next summer."Matty has impressed all of us over the summer with his attitude and composure when he got his first minutes for us," said Askou."He's been brilliant in training and we have been looking for the best set-up for his continued development, which we have now found in this loan."
Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Sheffield Wednesday's 'complete mess': Insiders tell MIKE KEEGAN the full story of Dejphon Chansiri's incompetence, how quickly a takeover must happen to save this giant club and why there IS still hope
It is days before the start of the season. A ball is yet to be kicked and the bitter tang of defeat has not yet been tasted, but in the club shop an angry fan is demanding a refund on his season ticket. There is no optimism about what lies ahead here, at one of English football's grand old institutions. No excitement for what is to come over the next nine months. No printing press busily stamping the names of summer arrivals on the backs of new shirts for supporters ahead of a new campaign.
BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
Glenavon trying to 'build on positives'
Assistant manager Colin Coates says Glenavon are ready to "build on the positives" after some mid-season "firefighting" after changes in the dugout last club have made 10 signings with Jordan McMullan, Oran O'Kane, Kris Lowe, Luke Cartwright, Paddy Burns, Stephen Mallon, Harry Murphy and Kyle McClelland have all joined the players have left the club, including 16-year-old forward Chris Atherton's long mooted move to Chelsea."It's been a busy sort of summer," said Coates, who became assistant manager under Paddy McLaughlin last year following Stephen McDonnell's exit. "After we came in last November, the first summer transfer window was always going to be busy with us wanting to bring in our own sort of players and maybe move people on whose time had came to an end at Glenavon, naturally more than anything."It's been a good summer and so far, it's been productive in terms of recruitment but also our training and our games that we've had, it's been top drawer."After former Cliftonville boss McLaughlin arrived last season, he helped lift the club from just four points off bottom of the table into 10th place, 14 points clear of Carrick Rangers in 11th and 24 points better off than relegated Loughgall."It was certainly firefighting when we first came in and just making sure that we stayed in the league," Coates added."Obviously we've done that and now it's about trying to build on the positives and try and move up the table where we believe Glenavon deserve to be."We have our ideas of how we want to play and, by bringing in the players that we've brought in, we'll be hoping that we can improve on last year's 10th place finish."
