Oskar Baker enjoyed the most consistent season of his career in 2022 but has still found himself at a new club.
The 24-year-old was delisted by Melbourne in October after five seasons and 15 senior games in the red and blue.
Less than two months later the Queenslander was picked up by the Western Bulldogs as a rookie for the 2023 season via the pre-season supplemental period.
Baker, who played in the VFL premiership with the Casey Demons this season, admits there were “mixed emotions” in leaving the Dees but is keen to get started with the Bulldogs after his “strongest season” as a senior footballer.
“It was a bit of a mixed year,” Baker admitted on SEN Mornings.
“Obviously very frustrating not to have played AFL, but in saying that, I was pretty happy with how I played.
“It was probably the strongest season and most consistent season I’ve put together in the five years I was at Melbourne, which is pretty funny because obviously I didn’t play AFL.
“I got great enjoyment out of it as well because of how well we did with Casey in winning the premiership. It was a bit of a mixed emotions year but I learnt from that and I think that’s going to hold me in good stead for next year.”
Baker explained how the move came about with his lack of AFL game time with the Demons allowing him to see the writing on the wall doubled with serious interest from the Dogs.
He expects to be deployed on a wing after talks with head coach Luke Beveridge and list manager Sam Power, potentially filling the void left by premiership player Lachie Hunter who coincidentally joined the Dees in the trade period.
“There was a bit of interest there from about halfway through the year, those conversations got a bit deeper and I was lucky enough to end up here,” he added.
“When I was talking to Luke Beveridge and Sam Power in the meetings I had with them, they said there is an opportunity for me there on the wing and that really appealed to me.
“It’s funny how it’s all worked out really.
“Hopefully with things going well I might be able to line up on Lachie in Round 1 when we play the Dees. That would be pretty funny, but something I’m definitely striving for over the break.”
If Baker does happen to force his way into the Bulldogs lineup for the Round 1 clash with the Demons, he would love nothing more than to take on an old sparring partner.
“I’d love to run alongside Ed Langdon,” he said further.
“I didn’t get to play that much AFL footy with Ed, we only had a couple of games together, but I used to play on him a fair bit at training. We used to have a bit of banter and whatnot on the field, so I thoroughly would enjoy that.
“Fingers crossed it can happen.”
The speedy wingman loved his time at Melbourne and will be forever grateful for the opportunity the club gave him.
However, he is excited about a fresh start at the Whitten Oval where he is intent on making a significant contribution at senior level in the red, white and blue despite his rookie status.
“I’ll be forever grateful to Melbourne for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream and play AFL footy,” he added.
“It was never my intention to get delisted but I think it definitely was for the best. I definitely needed a fresh start to go on a new journey and I’m absolutely rapt to have landed at the Dogs.
“I think I’m really ready to go now. Going into my sixth year of AFL footy I really want to play consistent AFL footy, I don’t want to be playing VFL anymore.
“My body is in a really good position and my form over the past couple of years is in a really good spot now. I think I’ve got a lot to deliver at AFL level.
“I’m over the moon and couldn’t be happier.”