Leon Baker

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Leon Baker
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Personal information
Birth , Western Australia
Recruited from Swan Districts Football Club (WAFL) (1981-1983)
Playing career¹
Debut Round 1, 1984, Essendon vs. , at
Team(s) AFL Essendon (1984-88 86 games)

WAFL Swan Districts (1981-83 64 games)

AFL/VFL 86 games, 70 goals [1]. AFL/WAFL/State 152 games (1981-1988)
¹ Statistics to end of season
Career highlights

  • Premiership Player (AFL) 1984,1985
  • Premiership Player (WAFL) 1982, 1983
  • Swan Medal 1983
  • All Australian Team 1985
  • WA State of Origin Team 1984,1985

Leon Baker is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club in the AFL and Swan Districts Football Club in the WAFL throughout the 1980s. Leon Baker started playing senior football quite late by modern standards and was recruited by Swan Districts when he was 24 years old [2] after playing many years of football in the country leagues including Cairns in Queensland and South Bunbury in Western Australia. Regarded as a highly skilled and fearless player he slotted easily into the Swan Districts team that lost the 1981 Grand Final with Baker playing on a half forward flank. Swan Districts went on to win the next two grand finals with Baker playing in the centre and once at full forward. Baker was awarded the 1983 Swan Medal for being the club's fairest and best player. Essendon Football Club then recruited Baker in 1984 where he played until 1988. A dual premiership player, Baker held down the centreman position in both the 1984 and 1985 grand finals. He came second in the club's fairest and best award for both years. Baker remained with the Bombers until the end of the 1988 season with injuries hampering his career toward the end. [3] Swan Districts named Baker in their team of the century. Baker began coaching after retirement and has coached Gippsland club , Maffra and The Port Douglas Crocodiles in 1993. [4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Essendon Football Club - Champions of Essendon (2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-26.
  2. ^ Swan Districts Football Club - Playertracker - Leon Baker (2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-26.
  3. ^ Full Points Footy - Biographies (Ba-Be) (2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-26.
  4. ^ Australian Rules - Footy in Paradise (2002). Retrieved on 2007-08-26.
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1984/85 Essendon Bombers Dual Premiership Players