Liam Baker reveals Andrew McQualter’s role in trade from Richmond to West Coast

Liam Baker reveals he spent much of this year coming to terms with moving back to WA, as well as the impact of Andrew McQualter on his call, and how he dealt with the fury of West Coast fans.

New Eagle Liam Baker has revealed he told Andrew McQualter if he got the coaching job at West Coast he would follow him across the Nullarbor.

Baker officially requested a move to the Eagles 15 minutes after the club announced McQualter would lead the club into 2025 and beyond.

He told SEN WA he was thrilled to land with the Eagles, with the former Richmond vice-captain traded to the club as part of a three-way trade on Tuesday.

However, that deal provoked outrage from Eagles fans, who reacted in uproar over pick 3 being traded away.

“It was like welcome to West Coast, this is what you’re in for,” Baker said on Wednesday.

“It’s tough.

“You’ve got to laugh it off a bit and they’re passionate at that’s why I loved them growing up, because of how well-supported they were.

“I came into the league with a chip on my shoulder and wanted to prove some people wrong and the club was good by me and got me where I wanted to go so I’ve got hold up my end of the bargain and play good footy.”

He told Eagles fans “we’ll get a good player for pick 12, don’t worry”.

Baker said he knew he wanted to come to West Coast a week before McQualter was announced as coach, but in the same breath admitted he’d told the former Richmond assistant he would follow him.

“I’ve been speaking to Mini all year and say from day dot when he was going for the job if you got it I’m coming there for you,” Baker said.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Mini and think he’ll do a great job at the Eagles, it was a big bonus he got announced just as I made my decision.”

He said he was thrilled to join McQualter, free agent Liam Baker and former juniors coach Jarryd Schofield in Perth, while also revealing he caught up with new teammate Harley Reid.

He said he was excited to join the Eagles despite their poor finishes over the past few seasons.

“I was thinking what I wanted out of the last bit of my career,” Baker said.

“To go to a team finding their feet and towards the bottom with a team like that and seeing what we can get to.

“I like getting challenged and even though Richmond was a challenge this year I feel like I need another one.

“Hopefully I can look back in a few years when we’re in bigger games and finals and think that this was the right call.”

Baker said it was a “tough” call to leave Richmond.

“I always wanted to come back home and always dreamt of playing in front of friends and family in WA,” he said.

“I wanted to do it but it was coming to terms with it and that took the whole year pretty much.

“It says a lot about the club (that it was a difficult decision) and how good they were to me and the boys there, the players and staff were unbelievable and everyone who goes through the club will tell you the same thing.”

Originally published as Liam Baker reveals Andrew McQualter’s role in trade from Richmond to West Coast