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Saint Baker out for four matches
Bruce Matthews
15apr04
ST KILDA tagger Steven Baker told last night how he voluntarily made an appointment with a psychologist in an attempt to find out why he punched Richmond onballer Kane Johnson.
LMAO
Tribunal at a glance:
Steven Baker - FOUR MATCHES
Luke Darcy - CLEARED
Matthew Primus - CLEARED
Jarrod Schofield - CLEARED
Aaron Hamill - ONE MATCH
Greg Stafford - THREE MATCHES
Baker said he still couldn't understand the reason for the blow, which cost him a four-match suspension at the AFL Tribunal.
"I sought advice from a psychologist off my own bat. I'm really confused. I'm not using it as an excuse. Obviously I've done the wrong thing," Baker told the hearing.
"He went through my childhood and concussion tests were normal. In the end I'm still confused about it."
Defence advocate Sean Carroll tabled the psychological report to tribunal members Brian Collis QC, Shane Maguire and Richard Loveridge, who granted a request that the content remained confidential.
Baker pleaded guilty and apologised to Johnson for the punch during the third quarter at Telstra Dome on Monday that split the Tiger's left eyebrow and required four stitches.
The Saint had no recollection from the moment Johnson pushed him to the ground during a ball-up stoppage on the wing until he saw the Richmond player, blood streaming down his face, remonstrating with him.
"I know it sounds funny, but I can't recall anything after being shoved to the ground and Kane running past. I'm not saying that to help the case, that's the truth," Baker said.
St Kilda said Baker hadn't been suffering concussion. It could have been fined $50,000 for sending a concussed player back on the field. A report by Saints medico Dr Ian Stone, dated yesterday and read by Collis, told how Baker complained of breathing difficulties at halftime.
Dr Stone said in the written report that he examined Baker for tenderness in the sternum (chest) area and noted he was lucid. "At no stage during the assessment did Steven complain of symptoms of concussion or head trauma," Stone said.
Baker told the hearing he was called to the phone to speak to coach Grant Thomas after being summoned from the ground immediately after the incident with Johnson.
He said he replied: "I'm not sure", when the coach asked what had happened.
Baker said he was shocked when the club's fitness adviser told the confused Saint that he had punched Johnson.
"I was talking to my best mate Stevie Milne on the bench and he said, 'It looks like you hit him'. I was in utter confusion," Baker said.
Baker said he tried to contact Johnson by phone to apologise "but he didn't take my call".
The regretful Saint said he was "shocked and utterly embarrassed by what I did".
Carroll told the hearing: "Steven and St Kilda don't offer the lack of memory as an excuse for what Steven did. The St Kilda Football Club would love to offer you an explanation for what occurred, but they can't."
Baker said he "copped a few bumps" and had problems breathing when he sought the club doctor at halftime.
He told Thomas he didn't feel well enough to continue the onball role and that's why he was moved to defence.
The tribunal heard Baker scuffled with Andrew Krakouer before the ball-up when Johnson intervened to bump the Saint tagger to the turf.
"I put the bump on and saw Baker coming. I tried to get out of the way, I didn't quite get out of the way," Johnson said. Emergency field umpire Stephen McBurney said he had an uninterrupted view and saw Baker strike Johnson with a blow of "significant force".
McBurney said Baker seemed nonplussed when he told him of the report, so much so that he approached St Kilda captain Lenny Hayes at the start of the last quarter to convey details.
Collis said the tribunal had decided on the "minimal penalty" despite describing it as a serious offence.
Bruce Matthews
15apr04
ST KILDA tagger Steven Baker told last night how he voluntarily made an appointment with a psychologist in an attempt to find out why he punched Richmond onballer Kane Johnson.
LMAO
Tribunal at a glance:
Steven Baker - FOUR MATCHES
Luke Darcy - CLEARED
Matthew Primus - CLEARED
Jarrod Schofield - CLEARED
Aaron Hamill - ONE MATCH
Greg Stafford - THREE MATCHES
Baker said he still couldn't understand the reason for the blow, which cost him a four-match suspension at the AFL Tribunal.
"I sought advice from a psychologist off my own bat. I'm really confused. I'm not using it as an excuse. Obviously I've done the wrong thing," Baker told the hearing.
"He went through my childhood and concussion tests were normal. In the end I'm still confused about it."
Defence advocate Sean Carroll tabled the psychological report to tribunal members Brian Collis QC, Shane Maguire and Richard Loveridge, who granted a request that the content remained confidential.
Baker pleaded guilty and apologised to Johnson for the punch during the third quarter at Telstra Dome on Monday that split the Tiger's left eyebrow and required four stitches.
The Saint had no recollection from the moment Johnson pushed him to the ground during a ball-up stoppage on the wing until he saw the Richmond player, blood streaming down his face, remonstrating with him.
"I know it sounds funny, but I can't recall anything after being shoved to the ground and Kane running past. I'm not saying that to help the case, that's the truth," Baker said.
St Kilda said Baker hadn't been suffering concussion. It could have been fined $50,000 for sending a concussed player back on the field. A report by Saints medico Dr Ian Stone, dated yesterday and read by Collis, told how Baker complained of breathing difficulties at halftime.
Dr Stone said in the written report that he examined Baker for tenderness in the sternum (chest) area and noted he was lucid. "At no stage during the assessment did Steven complain of symptoms of concussion or head trauma," Stone said.
Baker told the hearing he was called to the phone to speak to coach Grant Thomas after being summoned from the ground immediately after the incident with Johnson.
He said he replied: "I'm not sure", when the coach asked what had happened.
Baker said he was shocked when the club's fitness adviser told the confused Saint that he had punched Johnson.
"I was talking to my best mate Stevie Milne on the bench and he said, 'It looks like you hit him'. I was in utter confusion," Baker said.
Baker said he tried to contact Johnson by phone to apologise "but he didn't take my call".
The regretful Saint said he was "shocked and utterly embarrassed by what I did".
Carroll told the hearing: "Steven and St Kilda don't offer the lack of memory as an excuse for what Steven did. The St Kilda Football Club would love to offer you an explanation for what occurred, but they can't."
Baker said he "copped a few bumps" and had problems breathing when he sought the club doctor at halftime.
He told Thomas he didn't feel well enough to continue the onball role and that's why he was moved to defence.
The tribunal heard Baker scuffled with Andrew Krakouer before the ball-up when Johnson intervened to bump the Saint tagger to the turf.
"I put the bump on and saw Baker coming. I tried to get out of the way, I didn't quite get out of the way," Johnson said. Emergency field umpire Stephen McBurney said he had an uninterrupted view and saw Baker strike Johnson with a blow of "significant force".
McBurney said Baker seemed nonplussed when he told him of the report, so much so that he approached St Kilda captain Lenny Hayes at the start of the last quarter to convey details.
Collis said the tribunal had decided on the "minimal penalty" despite describing it as a serious offence.

