Steven Baker...

[Enrico_Misso]

I think Bakes was one of the reasons our season got off to such a great start.
He set the tone in those early games.

He and CJ were the ones who best exemplified "frontal pressure".
The rest of the team have picked up on it and the rest (so far) is history.

Bakes is a bit down at the moment.
But his influence is greater than his stats.

Keep faith with the Bakes.

[Saint Pete]

Its tough to talk about Bakes like this but gee I reckon he is really struggling. Gilbert must come staight back in if ready next week and i just cant find anybody else to move aside right now. Have to stick with raph because he will get better with a few more games. Gwilt and McQualter were the 2 most likely before today but they were both very serviceble today.

[St Fidelius]

I think Bakes was one of the reasons our season got off to such a great start.
He set the tone in those early games.

He and CJ were the ones who best exemplified "frontal pressure".
The rest of the team have picked up on it and the rest (so far) is history.

Bakes is a bit down at the moment.
But his influence is greater than his stats.

Keep faith with the Bakes.

Yeah I agree, and I found it tough to start up this thread, but to me he is not the same as he was.... and I feel for Eddy, who IMO would have played in round 1, but some d1ckhead umpire ran into him...

Anyway all I'm saying is that his spot is in jeopardy...

He needs to lift and improve from his past couple of games...

[Winmar7Fan]

I was hoping I was wrong and still do but I've been saying since last year I believe Baker and Goose are both finished.

A combination of what their bodies have sustained and the loss of a yard with it is tough enough. But add the intensity that the game has gone up now and IMO they're going to find it very hard.

[derby Street]

I am concerned that the game may have passed Stevie by - I hope like hell I am wrong. Early in the season he seemed to be getting to the contests - spoiling,tackling, blocking, desperate lunges etc and his possession was a lot surer and cleaner.
Lately this certainly isn't the case.

[Saintersss]

I think he will keep his spot until Dempster gains some form and fitness in the VFL, but unless he improves, Dempster will come in for him.

[happy feet]

Leave Bakes in - i know he will dish out something special for Gablett Jnr.

[joffaboy]

Christ - Bakers turn this week

Do you blokes take a poll to see whom you will scapegoat for a 8 goal win or is it just a spur of the moment?

FWIW I thought Baker was just OK. The players who should be focussed on were our midsn qtr 1. Hayes and Dal Santo a grand total of two possessions.

If they had done their bloody job in the first place and got the bloody pill we wouldn't have been 5 goals down in the first place.

But apparently some players are untouchable while the usual suspects attack Raph (deserved this week BTW) Blake (totally undeserved but gets caned as usual) even cj (played well on Wells all day and kept him quiet but still gets critisised).

Bakes didn't set the world on fire and I tend to agree with the OP - but this BS proclimation about the "game passing him by" etc is just stupid and ludricrious.

FFS people we are 11-0 and you still critisise

Wake up.

[BigMart]

Just looking for continual improvement Joffa.....and not being satisfied with another average effort against woeful opposition....

Lenny, Roo, Kosi, Joey, Dal, Gram, Mini, Zac, Sam were dominant

Gwilt, Schnieder, Ray, CJ, Geary were OK

and the rest were passengers....and it showed early until they ran out of steam and cattle.....don't be fooled by the margin..

[maverick]

Just looking for continual improvement Joffa.....and not being satisfied with another average effort against woeful opposition....

Lenny, Roo, Kosi, Joey, Dal, Gram, Mini, Zac, Sam were dominant

Gwilt, Schnieder, Ray, CJ, Geary were OK

and the rest were passengers....and it showed early until they ran out of steam and cattle.....don't be fooled by the margin..

Beg to differ.

I only have Gram, Lenny, Kosi and Mini as dominant, with Roo VG by the end of the game.

Joey, Dal, Zac and Sam were not dominant, they were workmanlike for mine.

BJ was OK, Max was OK, King was OK, Ray was OK, Ball was OK.

Bakes and Raph were down but hardly passengers. Blake struggled. McEvoy was quiet but not a passenger.

For mine we struggled on the day because we didn't have enough very good players.

[True Blue Sainter]

Its tough to talk about Bakes like this but gee I reckon he is really struggling. Gilbert must come staight back in if ready next week and i just cant find anybody else to move aside right now. Have to stick with raph because he will get better with a few more games. Gwilt and McQualter were the 2 most likely before today but they were both very serviceble today.

Think Raph is the most likely to make way before Bakes. A number of skill errors and fumbles at times in the last two weeks. Raph seems to be returning to some old habits. I hope he can re-discover the form of the last couple of games of last season and the final against Collingwood!

[St Fidelius]

Is it just me, or any 50/50 decision goes against Baker and maybe BJ..

[barks4eva]

Baker's slow reaction time and decision making is turning him into a liability,

which will likely be exposed against quality opposition,

IMHO, first cab off the rank out of the team,

or do we just continue with him, because of his PAST reputation and his PAST performances?

Baker needs to find some massive improvement and fast, if he deserves his place in the 22!