How Beveridge gave dogs recruit confidence

WESTERN Bulldogs recruit Oskar Baker is loving his start to life at the Whitten Oval.

After being delisted by Melbourne at the end of 2022, Baker was offered a lifeline by the Dogs as a pre-season supplemental selection and he’s already begun repaying the club’s faith.

So far, Baker has played every game in 2023 for his new club, for two wins and two losses, averaging almost a goal a game to go along with a solid 16 disposals per outing on the wing.

Now that he’s starting to cement his spot, Baker said he feels like he’s getting more confident by the week as his performances begin to track in the right direction.

“I’ve absolutely loved my time so far at the Dogs,” Baker told SEN Crunch Time.

“I feel like I’ve fit in really well, the fresh start has done wonders for me.

“With the way I’ve started the year, I’m just getting more confidence week-in, week-out.

“I’m just really trying to cement my spot in the team and contribute every week.

“I’m loving every minute of it, hopefully, I can continue to grow and become the player I want to and I think I’m capable of.”

While Baker is coming off a year where he failed to break through for a senior game with Melbourne, the 24-year-old believes it was his best year in the system.

He reflected on the importance of playing a strong game in Casey’s VFL grand final win over Southport, an outing that proved he was capable of playing above the state-league level.

“Looking back on it, I think it (the VFL grand final) was pretty important,” Baker said.

“But not just that game, looking back on it now as weird as it is because I didn’t play an AFL game last year, I almost found it my strongest AFL season to date.

“I thought my form was really consistent and that was going to hold me in really good stead if I had another opportunity to perform again this year.

“I think that’s really set me up with the way I’ve started this year and play my footy.

“But yeah, I do think that grand final performance last year nailed me to get another opportunity with the Dogs.”

With his time at Melbourne seemingly coming to an end following 15 games for the club midway through last season, Baker spoke about how he ended up a Bulldog and his relationship with new coach Luke Beveridge.

“I found out through my manager there was a bit of interest from the Dogs midway through last year,” Baker said.

“Then as the season went on and I got delisted by Melbourne, those conversations continued to grow.

“I caught up with Luke Beveridge and Sam Power in the off-season and those conversations got deeper.

“Lucky enough I was able to make my way to the club… from day one I’ve walked in Bevo has really backed me in.

“He’s encouraged me to use my strengths, my run and carry and speed with the ball to try and create offence for us.

“He’s filled me with confidence to get out there, play to my strengths and give me the belief that I do belong and that I can be a real role player for our team.”

After starting the season 0-2, the Bulldogs go in search of their third-straight win when they face Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

– BY LACHLAN GELEIT/ SEN