Baker wants another season with Saints

[SainterK]

http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/s ... 02372.aspx

OUT-OF-CONTRACT Colac export Steven Baker has already penciled his name on St Kilda's list for next season.

But the 31-year-old will have to prove his worth first.

If the small defender is even half the hit he was with Hamilton primary school students yesterday, he shouldn't have any trouble convincing Saints list managers.

Fresh from celebrating his 200th AFL game earlier this month - in the grand final rematch against Collingwood no less - Baker is plotting his immediate future in football.

His current three-year deal expires at the end of this season.

If Baker's body is right and he fits into St Kilda's 2012 plan, the former South Colac footballer is more than willing to offer his services.

"If I'm still valuable, hopefully I can snag one more year," he told The Standard yesterday.

The headstrong back pocket knows more than anyone that his time since debuting in 1999 has been "controversial".

He was famously suspended for nine rounds after niggling Geelong forward Steve Johnson last year but went on to play in the drawn grand final and replay.

Owning the tag of one of the competition's most relentless serial pests does not come easy.

[Con Gorozidis]

Nice work SainterK. Good find.

Interesting dilemma . List Mgt will be very difficult this year. The only obvious retirement will be Gardi.

There are no obvious de-listings. I know people want to de-list Cahill but the kid is only 20 so he still might come on this year.

Mcqualter, Polo, Raph and Blake might be in trouble?

I also guess we may lose a player or two to GWS. So there is your 6 or so.

So Bakes might just get another year.

[dcstkfc]

11 weeks to go, and these sensitive list management issues will come to a fore.

Particulalrly the ruck situation when you consider where the respectove careers of Gardi, Neil and Kosi are at.

[saintbrat]

if there is room on the list for a veteran who can be used to show the young guys what perisistence means- and to use as back up then I would love to see him stay..

[Goose is king]

You can not seriously believe we have room for Baker next year.
I have loved his work over the years but AFL footy has past him.
His disposal is poor, and his effort is all he has going for him now.
Thank you for your services over the years Bakes but please step aside for the teams best interests.

[desertsaint]

There's a fair few that i'd cut before i pushed him out.

[Con Gorozidis]

There's a fair few that i'd cut before i pushed him out.

hes borderline i reckon. lets say we turn-over 6-8 players from the following 12:

gardi
mcqualter
blake
raph
polo
cahill
bakes
gilbo
gram
stanley
winmar
geary

[saintsRrising]

To go forward in 2012 and beyond....several players from the 2010...have to go to make way for the likes of:


* Steven, Armo, Ledger, Cripps, Sippos....

and possibles of Lynch, Smith, Walsh, Simpkin....



Hayes also come back in 2012...and is too good a player to not pick.


So someone, or rather someones...have got to go.

Eddy and Mini from 2010 have now been squeezed out...but it is not enough.

Baker, Blake, Raph...are the most likely....
Gram.....needs to do more to hang on...but will be on the list next unless traded.

[mad saint guy]

Bakes is pushing it this year, there is no way he should play on. You don't want a former club champion to finish his career as a backup in the VFL.

[Eastern]

The decision on Bakes, like several others is going to be both complex & difficult. I suspect that the List Manager, Coach & Recruiting Manager would already be in "Very Private" discussions about this. We need to trust them to get it right !!

[skeptic]

Nope

takes a spot away from a Smith, Cripps, Ledger, Polo, Eddy, Geary that all potentially more to offer

[Junction Oval]

Play the younger guys to see how they adapt to the higher AFL level. This will anble some "considered" and hopefully "intelligent" decisions to be made, based around some "performance indicators," instead of "perceived" performance potential.

This approach will benefit the Club most and if some of the "old favourites" have to move on, then it will be based at least on some degree of "performance" from the younger guys.

[Teflon]

He's bled for the club, been a great servant. But 2011 is the end for Bakes Im afraid.

Not only has the game gone by him (attacking defensive efforts) but is he jaywalks he gets rubbed out for 10 years.

Go out as a legend in 2011 Bakes - dont hang on for 1 to many. Its time.

[Dr Spaceman]

Bakes is pushing it this year, there is no way he should play on. You don't want a former club champion to finish his career as a backup in the VFL.

Yeah loves Bakes but if he's given another year he runs the risk of becoming the 2012 version of Max Hudghton.

[lyonhearted]

Been a fantastic servant for the club but definitely should not be pulling the boots on again next year....thanks for the memories Bakes

[borderbarry]

If Gardy successfully comes back this season he may wish to have another go next year after putting the effort for what, 7 or 8 games this year? And I think he would be more value to the club than Bakes next year.

[Bernard Shakey]

Bye bye Bakes. Great contributor, but the game has passed you by.

Gardi, Mini, Geary, Blake and Heyne or Cahill are probably also finished. Love to see the back of Kosi, but he is contracted. Maybe he'll retire.

[Mr Magic]

.... Love to see the back of Kosi, but he is contracted. Maybe he'll retire.

Just curious Bernard.
If/when you see Kosi at training, or in the street, do you tell him what you really think of him as a footballer?

If so, what is his reaction to those comments?

[evertonfc]

Bakes is pushing it this year, there is no way he should play on. You don't want a former club champion to finish his career as a backup in the VFL.

Exactly.

Thanks for everything Bakes, but you were lucky to keep going this year.

An honourable retirement would serve you and the club well.

[Johnny Member]

I'd keep Bakes in a heartbeat.

[Old Mate]

Tough call. At the moment there's no one better in the reserves to take his place but if with crash and burn for the remainder of the season then we need to look for the future. I'll see how he and the team goes for the rest of the season before a make a judgement. True champion.

[St Nick]

I know everyone will howl me down but here goes. If Lyon and the rest of the coaches sign on Baker for 2012 then they should all be removed. FFS, we are in a re-building phase now. Baker has been a great player and a great servant of the club but his time is up.

For this great club to go forward we must forget about 2009 and 2010. The time to re-build is NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SainterK]

He just doesn't have the confidence in his kicking anymore from defence, always handballs or kicks backwards.

Ross mentioned recently having him play a Jake King like role in the forward line, that could be interesting....

I'd say if he's pitching though, it's probably because he knows the end is approaching.

[spert]

Great servant of the club over the years, but we must go with youth now. Bakes in the same position as Kosi, Milne, Gram and maybe McQ -played some top footy in the 2000s, but won't contribute to another premiership for the club.

[St Chris]

I've always seen Geary as Baker's replacement as a tough small defender who plays deep, so I think Geary's form for the remainder of the year will determine whether Bakes goes around again.

If he can put together 8 weeks of decent senior footy playing in the backline, it may just spell the end for Bakes.

If Geary battles away on a wing or in the centre for Sandy, and can't make an impact at senior level, then there's no reason (ie. no replacement) why Baker can't get another season.