AFL 2020: Torin Baker not ‘bitter’ after losing job at Hawthorn
Is a return to the local football ranks on the radar for Torin Baker? The former Western Jets boss and Geelong Football League champion discusses his next move after he was let go by Hawthorn.
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Torin Baker is not bitter but he’s better.
The ex-Western Jets coach and Geelong Football League champion has not ruled out taking up a coaching role at local level after falling victim to the AFL’s soft cap cuts brought on by the coronavirus crisis.
Baker was one of five coaches let go by Hawthorn earlier this month after a two-year stint as a development coach.
The 40-year-old previously held down the top job at Camperdown, an experience he “really enjoyed”, and is open to re-entering the community football ranks to pursue his passion for coaching.
Baker was also a star at St Joseph’s, sharing the GFL’s Mathieson Medal with Paul Carson in 2008, and also showcased his class for Spotswood in the Western Region league.
Local clubs appear to have no shortage of options with several quality coaches exiting the AFL system.
Baker said he was in “early discussions” with “a few” clubs at different levels regarding his future.
“You can get your head stuck in the footy world and (a break has) certainly broadened my horizons,” Baker said.
“It (coaching) is not the absolute be-all and end-all for me, but the passion that runs through me is in the footy landscape and certainly coaching now.
“That’s first priority and what I’ve been doing for the last decade, so I imagine the next opportunity will come through coaching.
“I’ve just got to make sure those positions fit well with a young family and just the requirements with having a young family.
“I’m hoping to sort something out in the next 4-6 weeks, but there are a few things at the moment that I’ll just explore more and hopefully something comes of it.”
Baker, who has a teaching background, spent six seasons in charge at the Jets in Victoria’s top under-18 competition before he was snapped up by the Hawks.
He said he was better for the experience under four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson and several other knowledgeable mentors.
Baker said discovering how “you can get the best outcome for an individual and really hone in on an individual’s development” had been key to his progress.
“I’ve just got so many more tools in my coaching kit now than what I had,” he said.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity I had.
“There’s no bitterness from my point of view. I totally understand where it’s at with the landscape in sport and football. I’ll take the learning and go to the next opportunity.”
While Baker said “it was pretty disappointing” to lose his position and tough on his family, he has taken positives from the circumstances.
“One of the things about not having footy in your life has been some other things come into your life,” Baker said.
“We’ve renovated a house, moved to a new area and I’ve probably learnt some skills I never would have learnt had I been in the footy world. That’s been a real bonus of this time now.”
Baker is hopeful of gaining another crack at the elite level in coming years but is pragmatic about the situation.
He said he felt for the remaining AFL coaches, who have been forced to take on much heavier workloads this year.
“I don’t think it’s going to be something for the next 12 months, just with the amount of coaches that I know in similar circumstances to myself,” he said.
“But looking down the track, I enjoyed it and would be silly not to look at another opportunity.
“(The remaining coaches) have felt the effects of being in the hub and probably in many ways have been overworked. They’re doing a lot more than they previously would have.”
Hawthorn also parted ways with Damian Carroll, Max Bailey, Marco Bello and Brett Deledio.
The football department budget for AFL clubs is set to be slashed from $9.7m to $6.2m next season.
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