Steven Baker - Rogue

[Kildonan]

Here's a couple of links to articles that are like windows into Baker's life:

Bite on Baker
13 January 2006 Herald Sun
Scott Gullan

ST KILDA hard nut Steven Baker had his finger bitten during a mugging on an end-of-season trip to Barcelona.

and

Saint becomes 'Devil' on card nights
13 January 2006 Herald Sun
Scott Gullan

IT STARTED six months ago when Steven Baker was lounging around on his couch channel-surfing and stumbled across a poker tournament. He was intrigued and soon hooked.

What intrigued me with this article is that the players from different clubs socialise together more readily than I believed:

He and his housemate, Saints ruckman Barry Brooks, play mini-tournaments with the winner earning the right for the best seat on the couch in front of the TV, or to have his Milo made by the loser.

The weekly game of Texas hold 'em – the style of poker commonly played on the TV tournaments – is usually $10 or $20 in, but that can rise to $50 if "high rollers" – including regulars Carlton's Brendan Fevola and Hawthorn's Luke Hodge – turn up.

Games can last for up to four hours and one night the number of players swelled to 20 with Baker's dining and kitchen tables both having to be cleared to cope with the demand.

 

[Kildonan]

I love the way Baker goes about his game. He executes so many sheppards and other 1%ers that we appreciate. We often just don't know who's done it though, because he is frequently obscured by the pack. He often gets himself deep in traffic. He's working to keep his opponent out of the game. Rather than hang off his opponent and try and tie him up when he gets the ball, Bakes often goes for the ball intended for his opponent. He backs himself that he can beat his man in a one on one. Short passes are often very hard to combat, even Bakes can't stop effective passes from hitting his man. What he can do is compete for the longer pass, sometimes cutting it off, but even when he doesn't, his recovery time is phenomenal and he's back at his man, harrying his opponent and preventing the play on football that can leave defenders unprepared. He ties up the handball feed to their clearance specialists. He is a fierce competitor for the ball. He believes that any ball within his sphere of influence is rightfully his, unless the Saints already have the ball, in which case he takes it as a personal affront if any opposition players get near our ball carrier. He works his guts out to try and prevent those "bastards" from even touching our guy. When he plays on a key link man for the opposition offense, he often stops the flow. He smothers, he ties the ball up. He goes in with an almost Hamill-like ferocity. Those feeding the ball towards his opponent, will often lose confidence in the effectiveness of their man and then seek alternate routes to goal. He upsets their flow. We all can visualise him now: on one of trademark burst away from his man, bum out, chest out (is not blessed with great speed, but has a nice burst) that burst often is enough for the chaser to decide he's got away. Then they realise that he's already at his top speed and they can see that they can still catch him. He gets the ball off before they do. He's a little short for the AFL, those smaller than him have the pace he lacks. He has a grand physique though. A big bum, powerful legs, powerful arms, huge chest; he's a brick house. The club know his worth, rewarding him with a best and fairest last season. If we only recognise half of what he does, we'll still reckon he's had a fair game!

I wish we could have another of his ilk, a tougher competitor would be very hard to find.

 

[Maysie]

I love the way Baker goes about his game. He executes so many sheppards and other 1%ers that we appreciate. We often just don't know who's done it though, because he is frequently obscured by the pack. He often gets himself deep in traffic. He's working to keep his opponent out of the game. Rather than hang off his opponent and try and tie him up when he gets the ball, Bakes often goes for the ball intended for his opponent. He backs himself that he can beat his man in a one on one. Short passes are often very hard to combat, even Bakes can't stop effective passes from hitting his man. What he can do is compete for the longer pass, sometimes cutting it off, but even when he doesn't, his recovery time is phenomenal and he's back at his man, harrying his opponent and preventing the play on football that can leave defenders unprepared. He ties up the handball feed to their clearance specialists. He is a fierce competitor for the ball. He believes that any ball within his sphere of influence is rightfully his, unless the Saints already have the ball, in which case he takes it as a personal affront if any opposition players get near our ball carrier. He works his guts out to try and prevent those "bastards" from even touching our guy. When he plays on a key link man for the opposition offense, he often stops the flow. He smothers, he ties the ball up. He goes in with an almost Hamill-like ferocity. Those feeding the ball towards his opponent, will often lose confidence in the effectiveness of their man and then seek alternate routes to goal. He upsets their flow. We all can visualise him now: on one of trademark burst away from his man, bum out, chest out (is not blessed with great speed, but has a nice burst) that burst often is enough for the chaser to decide he's got away. Then they realise that he's already at his top speed and they can see that they can still catch him. He gets the ball off before they do. He's a little short for the AFL, those smaller than him have the pace he lacks. He has a grand physique though. A big bum, powerful legs, powerful arms, huge chest; he's a brick house. The club know his worth, rewarding him with a best and fairest last season. If we only recognise half of what he does, we'll still reckon he's had a fair game!

I wish we could have another of his ilk, a tougher competitor would be very hard to find.

i agree with EVERY SINGLE WORD YOU SAID THERE
ive always wonder how i could summarise why he's my favourite player
I think you've just done it for me!!!