West Coast membership champion Liam Baker says one-win season made him realise the significance of ‘little wins’ | USAEMALL.com

Liam Baker says he never understood why football clubs spoke of “little wins” but after a tough first season at West Coast he now knows their importance.

The lifelong Eagles fan claimed the John Worsfold Medal as club champion at Crown Perth’s Grand Ballroom on Saturday night after a consistent season for the one-win side.

Baker finished ahead of third-year defender Reuben Ginbey and superstar midfielder Harley Reid to be crowned West Coast’s best player this year.

It comes after the 27-year-old crossed from Richmond at the end of last season, where he was part of the Tigers’ most successful era, playing in two premierships.

It’s a stark contrast to this year when the Eagles sung the song just once and finished with a second wooden spoon in three seasons.

Despite the struggles on the field, Baker said there was always something different to strive for.

“I’ve learnt a lot this year. There’s little wins along the way, and you always hear about the little wins, but in my own head I could never really wrap my head around it,” Baker said after the event.

“This year I found a way whether it is Harvey Johnston in my ear about ground balls or Bo Allan and Hammer (Hamish) Davis doing heaps of touch. Those are the little things that got me through the weeks.

“This is the first time in my career where those little, small things actually made life a lot easier.”

While Baker was beaming with pride to win the prestigious honour, he was more excited to be home in WA and playing for the Eagles.

“It probably means more to me than this award, playing for the club. I always wanted to play for West Coast, whether it was the trade period last year or years before that I wasn’t sure if it was going to happen so I’m grateful to be here,” he said.

“We won one game, but I had a hell of a year, and I can’t wait for the years to come. I feel like we can build something and I want to be part of something that I was there when we’re at the bottom.

“I feel like we can all build something together and that’s what I’m proud to be a part of.”

While it was Baker’s first season in the blue and gold it continued a trend of incredible consistency from the versatile footballer.

He’d finished in the top six of Richmond’s fairest and best in the five seasons before joining the Eagles, a remarkable achievement considering he was picked up in the rookie draft as a mature-age prospect out of Subiaco.

“I lived with Jayden Short for a while and he said ‘never, ever give up your spot no matter what’ and that’s what I try to live by,” he said.

“I don’t want to leave the team whether I am sore or get injured. It’s up to playing games. I’m lucky enough to not get injured too badly and play enough games.

“Shorty told me to never give up your spot for anything and I’ll live by that forever. I don’t ever want to miss a game.”

Baker became first-year coach Andrew McQualter’s Mr Fix-It across the season. He was earmarked to play predominantly across half- back but because of injury and pure necessity he found himself needed in a variety of positions.

It is a trend that has been the hallmark of his 151-game career.

“I’ve had the same conversations in all my exit interviews pretty much my whole career saying we’ll keep you in one position, but it never happens. I understand it, but I will do whatever for the team as will anyone in that room there that you ask,” Baker said.

“It was a lot of back this year but at times I had to find myself forward and that’s fine. In the midfield, I’ll do whatever.

“Hopefully when we get a bit more settled it means myself being settled as well but whatever happens in the future, I’ll just do whatever.”

Baker found himself skippering the Eagles in the final two games of the season when co-captain Liam Duggan was suspended and Oscar Allen was injured alongside fellow leadership group members Jeremy McGovern and Jake Waterman.

It was a steep learning curve for the Subiaco product, who had to ensure the young group remained on track despite repeated defeats.

“Probably the fronting up one. Like Mini said, you walked in there after round 23 when we’d won one game, beaten to a pulp against the Western Bulldogs and everyone showed up with a smile on their face,” he said.

“In previous years that might have not been me but if I was to be one of the blokes that other people looked up to then I had to show up with a smile on my face and go ‘what’s next? Forget about that game and what can we do to get better’.

“That’s what I was talking about in terms of those little wins along the way. I’ve learnt a lot from the boys throughout the year, so credit to them.”