Pingaring gun Liam Baker part of Richmond’s leadership group for the first time, named vice-captain for 2024

Dual premiership player Liam Baker has been given added responsibility for 2024, handed an official leadership role with Richmond last week.

Baker has been selected as one of three Tigers vice-captains to support skipper Toby Nankervis for the upcoming AFL season.

The Pingaring product, who grew up playing for Lake Grace-Pingrup, has shown immense adaptability and value as a small utility across his 110-game career and played every match in the last three seasons.

The hard-nosed 26-year-old is entering his seventh year at Punt Road and will join raking half-back flanker Jayden Short and forward spearhead Tom Lynch in the leadership group assisting Nankervis.

The Subiaco junior has displayed vast consistency in his Tigers tenure and finished in the top six of the Jack Dyer Medal count as the Tigers’ best and fairest award for four consecutive years.

Baker has developed strongly on and off the field and in 2022 was voted the AFL’s most courageous player.

Tigers general manager of football performance Tim Livingstone said the club was blessed to have the ilk of players such as Baker around the club.

“We are fortunate to have a strong group of leaders right across the playing list, which is invaluable for our club,” he said.

“Part of our 2024 leadership model is having Toby as captain, and Liam (Baker), Jayden (Short), and Tom (Lynch) as vice-captains, which is a terrific acknowledgement for them given our selection process is heavily driven by the players and endorsed by our coaches and staff.

“All four guys have great respect across our club and the broader competition, and it is exciting to have their support, along with the contributions of all of our playing group to lead us forward.”

The Tigers begin their season against the Gold Coast Suns at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday.