Price revealed for Liam Baker as Tigers brace to lose vice-captain amid interest from WA clubs

Liam Baker is towards the top of the priority list for West Australian clubs, with JON RALPH revealing the price it would cost to secure the Tigers’ vice-captain in a trade.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 14: Liam Baker of the Tigers celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 05 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Richmond Tigers at Optus Stadium on April 14, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Richmond would be likely to receive a draft pick in the second half of the first round for Liam Baker as the club’s odds of retaining their vice-captain continue to drift.

The groundwork for a potential trade is already being laid as he considers his future after coming impossibly close to moving back to Perth two seasons ago.

In the end with Richmond in the premiership window he signed a new two-year deal but with West Coast and Fremantle both coming hard he seems more likely to return home.

Richmond faces a difficult off-season ahead with Dustin Martin, Dion Prestia and Jack Graham all free agents and Gold Coast interested in contracted defender Daniel Rioli.

Richmond vice-captain Liam Baker is weighing up a return to Perth. Picture: Michael Klein

Baker has bought a $2.2 million home on the waterfront in Perth that he will eventually move into and at 26 he is at the perfect age to sign a five or six-year deal.

He seems unlikely to sign on long-term at Richmond even if he does stay so it is the perfect time to secure his financial future with a massive long-term deal in the west.

West Coast has already flagged the possibility of luring him through the pre-season draft but he would not consider any deal that did not give Richmond fair compensation.

The Eagles are yet to officially lodge an offer but would likely need to split their top-five draft pick to secure two first-rounders, the second of which they would trade for Baker.

Fremantle is just as keen and has cap space and three first-rounders (their own pick, Collingwood’s pick and Port Adelaide’s selection).

But Baker grew up a mad West Coast fan with Daniel Kerr, Ben Cousins and Chris Judd as his idols so might eventually attempt to join the Eagles.

If Richmond was to lose its vice-captain it would need to secure fair compensation so a pick between 9-18 would be the starting point in negotiations.

The Tigers could also see their suite of late picks accumulated in recent trades devalued if the league brings in new rules over the AFL bidding system for father-sons and academy picks.

Richmond has its own draft selections plus Fremantle’s second and third-rounder, West Coast’s third-rounder and Port Adelaide and Collingwood’s fourth-rounders.

Baker has been one of the Tigers’ best in 2024. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It had hoped to trade them with Brisbane and Carlton – who need points for father-son and academy picks – but under changes those later picks might be worth less points in a bid to see clubs pay fairer value.

On the current points system those points would be worth pick 9 but if later picks are diluted in strength Richmond would have less options to improve their draft hand.

This masthead revealed in February Baker’s talks were parked as he pondered his future.

His relationship with his coach Adem Yze and his young teammates continues to strengthen but Yze has made clear the club will back his decision either way.

Yze said he would give Baker “the world” if he stayed but West Coast’s recent resurgence would also give him hope he could join the Eagles when they are quickly improving.

Richmond could still end up with three first-round picks or four or five picks within the first 30 selections if the league postpones changes to its bidding system and the Tigers can work magic with a series of pick swaps in a year where they end up trading Baker.

Originally published as Price revealed for Liam Baker as Tigers brace to lose vice-captain amid interest from WA clubs