It was a dream come true for rookie Tiger Liam Baker . . . a senior league debut against Collingwood at the MCG in front of more than 88,000 fans, and a Richmond win.

After being overlooked in the 2016 AFL draft, the determined, talented, midfielder/small forward from Western Australia, had extra reason to celebrate his first appearance at the game’s highest level.

And the industrious 20-year-old certainly didn’t look out of place on footy’s biggest stage, finishing the match with a dozen disposals, five score involvements and two behinds.

Star Richmond key forward and co-vice-captain Jack Riewoldt pumped up Baker during a post-match interview on ‘Fox Footy’ . . .

“He’s a great story of a kid from Lake Grace. We’re calling him the second best thing to come out of Lake Grace after Nat Fyfe,” Riewoldt said.

“Thought he really held his own today . . .

“It’s always good your first time you have a win.

"It’s a really special moment for him, and a special moment for some of us old guys. It makes us reminisce on what our first win was like.”