This was a very interesting game and Baker's last quarter was well above Gary Ablett. Peak Dane Swan.
11 kicks, 2 hb, 5 clearances, 1.2. Peak dane Swan.
*Well, that's because Baker was always a champion.* He wasn't in the three preceding quarters.
I'm still getting my head around it.
I don't want to just put it down to conditions but that mattered. The ground was icy. The ball wouldn't bounce. And the wind was holding the ball up but the ball still wouldn't bounce.
The game was put on for those strong at lawn height. And Baker was easily the strongest.
But I can't put these numbers, better than Gary Ablett numbers, just down to conditions. Baker was reading it and was fresh when others were tiring. He willed that football into his hands and he did was had to be done. And he was athletically awesome against elite opponents. Awesome through the core and nimble on his pegs.
Baker's match winning quarter was not just easily his best but perhaps the best final quarter by any Richmond player in history. If he kicks three instead of 1.2 he is canonised.
Conditions will favour him again tomorrow night.
