Why Richmond is taking a quiet approach to Liam Baker’s decision

Richmond will continue to take a quiet and hands-off approach to Liam Baker’s future.

The 26-year-old co-vice captain remains out of contract beyond 2024 and is the subject of serious interest from West Coast and Fremantle.

Baker, a West Australian native, reportedly met with the Eagles over his club’s bye weekend but is still yet to make a call on what’s next.

Tigers coach Adem Yze insists the club has attempted to ease any anxiety Baker may be feeling by taking any pressure away until he is ready to make his decision.

“We had a really nice discussion earlier in the season and I don’t want to put that pressure on him,” Yze said on SEN Breakfast.

“I really want him to walk in every day and really put all of his heart and energy into the Richmond footy club while he’s here.

“If he does make a decision that he’s going - obviously we’d love him to stay - but that he makes that decision at a certain point in time.

“If he thinks about it and keeps answering questions about it throughout the season then there’s just going to be this weight. If he’s got a weight on his shoulders, he’s only a small man, so we need him to play bigger.

“We just took that anxiety and pressure off him earlier in the season since then. Because I could sense that he was just thinking about it the whole time and he’s such a great person and a great team man that it would be weighing on him.

“Those questions are off the table. We just want him to come in and enjoy his footy and when he makes that decision hopefully it is to say with our footy club.

“That will happen later in the year.”

Despite the distractions, two-time premiership player Baker is putting together a very handy season for the Tigers in which he is averaging career highs in disposals (21.7), marks (4.2), inside 50s (4.2), tackles (3.7) and clearances (3.5).

Baker chat aside, Yze confirmed that midfielder Jacob Hopper will return from a hamstring injury to take on Carlton at the MCG on Sunday.