Leon Baker
Encyclopedia
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.
Baker started playing senior football quite late by modern standards and was recruited by Swan Districts
when he was 24 years old 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 1980 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. 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.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player who played for the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and Swan Districts Football Club
Swan Districts Football Club
The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
throughout the 1980s.
Baker started playing senior football quite late by modern standards and was recruited by Swan Districts
Swan Districts Football Club
The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
when he was 24 years old after playing many years of football in the country leagues including Cairns in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and South Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Regarded as a highly skilled and fearless player he slotted easily into the Swan Districts team that lost the 1980 Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
with Baker playing on a half forward flank
Half-forward line
In the sport of Australian rules football, the half-forward line refers to a position on the field of play.3 players are positioned in the half-forward line, a left and right half-forward flank player, as well as a centre half-forward....
. Swan Districts went on to win the next two grand finals with Baker playing in the centre
Centre line
The Centre line refers to a set of positions on an Australian rules football field.It consists of 3 players, two on the wings , and one 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
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
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. 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.