Respected footy journalist Peter Vlahos has learned details of Fremantle’s pitch to attract out-of-contract Richmond utility Liam Baker to the club this off-season.
Baker, who hails from Perth, has long been a reported target for West Coast but recent reports have suggested Fremantle are also very keen on his services.
The 26-year-old has won two premierships across his 115 games for the Tigers but recently bought a multi-million-dollar property on Perth’s waterfront.
Vlahos says that Baker is on the top of the Dockers’ shopping list and that the club has offered a deal of up to five years to the player and his management.
“Liam Baker, who we saw last week play for Richmond against the Eagles, I believe that Fremantle are making a serious pitch to get him to the land of the purple,” Vlahos said on SEN Sportsday WA.
“To the point of view that the 26-year-old is right at the top of the Fremantle Dockers’ shopping list.
“They’re keen to get a ready-made replacement for possibly when Nat Fyfe calls it time.
“They are prepared and they’ve offered Liam Baker’s management an extended contract option of up to about five years I’m hearing.”
While Fremantle are chasing Baker hard, Vlahos doesn’t expect the Eagles to simply lie down and let their rivals get the inside run in hopes of luring him to their club.
He does expect the Dockers to continue ramping up their approach though and says that Fremantle are hellbent and prepared to do whatever it takes to get him in a purple jumper.
“But on the other hand, the West Coast Eagles aren’t just going to lie down and play dead,” Vlahos said.
“They too also are pretty keen to explore the possibility of Liam Baker as well.
“That’s some news that I picked up this morning that the Fremantle Dockers are hellbent to walk over broken glass if possible to get Liam Baker to the Dockers next season.
“That’s to bolster their midfield as Nat Fyfe looks to exit from that position in the not-too-distant future.”
Baker’s immediate focus will be on Richmond’s Anzac Eve clash against Melbourne at the MCG on Wednesday, April 24.
