Oskar Baker played arguably the best game of his AFL career at the MCG on Sunday to lock up a spot in the Western Bulldogs side ahead of a possible finals debut, and yet it was all secondary to the pink laces in his boots.
The Dogs’ last-gasp comeback win over Melbourne came in the annual Pink Lady Match, hosted by Melbourne to bring the AFL community together and help raise awareness of the impact of breast cancer.
Son of ex-Windsor-Zillmere QAFL star Leigh Baker, a product of the Wilston-Grange juniors and Aspley seniors, and a one-time member of the Brisbane Lions, he lost his mother to cancer shortly before he was drafted in 2017.
It had long been his dream to be a part of the Pink Lady Match celebrations, and in the 21st year of the charity partnership he was front and centre on Sunday, earning more publicity than ever before in his career.
The now 27-year-old mop-haired redhead, an ambassador for the Pink Lady Foundation, has worn a black armband and taped wrists in memory of his mother throughout his career, and last weekend added pink laces to his boots.
He’d considered asking permission of the AFL to wear a pink headband too, instead of his normal white headband, but decided the pink laces were sufficient.
“Mum was my biggest supporter and was always there for me. It’s such a special thing … I’m rapt to be part of it,” he said.
“I haven’t exactly had the easiest footy career and often I wondered whether I was good enough, but she always reassured me. She’s my inspiration … when she fell ill I made her a promise I’d make it to the AFL, and eight years later .. here we are. She’d be proud.”
Baker was originally drafted by Melbourne with Pick No. 48 in the 2017 AFL National Draft, but has struggled to secure a regular game at the elite level.
He spent his first season with the Demons in 2018 in the VFL, played 9-3-3- games in 2019-20-21 and was a member of the club’s 2022 VFL premiership side, but was delisted after five years at the Demons.
He was thrown a lifeline by the Bulldogs via the pre-season supplementary period in the same year, debuted for the Dogs in Round 1, 2023 against Melbourne, and played 18 games in his first season at the ‘Kennell’.
Games haven’t come easily since then. He played six games last year and has added seven games this year in Rounds 2-3-4-11-20-21-22.
He had 19 possessions to three-quarter time on Sunday and was on track to better his career high of 22, and despite finishing with 21 earned lavish praise from coach Luke Beveridge.
Barring something extraordinary, he’ll hold his place as the Dogs, ninth on the AFL ladder, chase wins over West Coast and Fremantle at Marvel Stadium in the last two rounds in the hope of sneaking into the finals.
In other Queensland highlights of Round 22 of the AFL season last weekend:-
Aliir Aliir picked up 10 coaches votes in Port Adelaide’s six-point loss to Fremantle at Adelaide Oval, collecting 22 possessions and kicking the first goal of his 112-game career at the Power after 64 games with Sydney.
Connor Budarick, a two-time knee reconstruction victim, played his 50th game for the Gold Coast Suns in their 19-point win over Carlton at Marvel Stadium, as Alex Davies continued his resurgence with 18 possessions and a team-high eight tackles.
Harris Andrews, captaining Brisbane solo in the absence of Lachie Neale, stood tall in defence as the Lions suffered a two-point loss to Sydney at the Gabba. He had 20 possessions and 10 one-percenters, earning five coaches votes – behind only Sydney’s five-goal hero Isaac Heeney, who polled the maximum 10 votes.
Will Ashcroft polled three votes for his 31 possessions, while Levi Ashcroft, given a rare chance to play through the midfield in Neale’s absence, had 27 possessions and career-highs of 14 contested possessions and seven clearances. Dayne Zorko had 28 possessions in his 298th game.
Jack Bowes had 24 possessions in Geelong’s 44-point win over Essendon at Kardinia Park to consolidate his place in the Cats side for the finals, and Bailey Scott returned to the North team as the substitute, picking up six possessions in the final term of their 54-point loss to GWS in Canberra.
And Ben Keays had eight possessions and a goal in Adelaide’s come-from-behind win over wooden-spooners West Coast in Perth.
All this leaves Gold Coast all but assured of an historic first Toyota AFL Finals Series appearance. They sit sixth on the AFL ladder with a 14-6 record, but with a game in hand are effectively fifth, with games against GWS at People First Stadium on Saturday, followed by Port Adelaide in Adelaide and Essendon at People First Stadium to play. Two wins will guarantee they play in September.
But defending premiers Brisbane struggling to make the top eight. They are fifth at 14-1-6 but need at least one win from Friday night’s clash with Fremantle in Perth or their Round 24 Gabba clash with Hawthorn to be safe.