As a player renowned for his courage, toughness and fierce, unrelenting attack on the football, it is somewhat of a surprise to learn what the non-negotiable aspect of Liam Baker’s distinguished playing career at Richmond is.

“It’s coming in with a smile on your face, have a laugh, get around the boys. That’s the number one thing,” told AFL.com.au leading football journalist Damian Barrett in a special interview.

“We all have our problems at home . . . 70 percent of us will be having a problem once a week.

05:16

Baker on his unique footy journey and rollercoaster year

Liam Baker chats with Damian Barrett about his rise in the AFL and a season that has already seen massive changes at Tigerland, thanks to Crypto.com

“It’s a good place (Tigerland). You can come in and you can bring your problems to work, you can talk about them with the boys.

Baker credits teammate and housemate Jayden Short with having a significant, positive influence on his football life.

“I’m lucky, I live with ‘Shorty’ (Jayden Short) and he’d be the best at the Club at that . . . coming in with a smile, have a laugh,” Baker said.

“I’ve probably learned a bit of that from him because I could be down and grumpy at times.

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Round 17: Baker stuns 'G with wild soccer GOTY contender

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“He taught me a lot of lessons probably that he doesn’t even know that he taught me . . . pushing through pain to get on the track and work as hard as you can, never give up your spot. That kind of stuff.

“It’s funny, that’s the way I’m wired a bit now as well, and a lot of that would be to do with living with him and being so close with him.”

Baker, a 25-year-old veteran of 103 games with Richmond, including two Grand Final triumphs (2019 and 2020) also spoke about taking on more responsibility now as one of the leaders of the Club’s playing group.

“We’ve had a lot of transition over the last four or five years with ‘Grigga’ (Shaun Grigg), a few years ago, Bachar, (Houli), Dave (Astbury), ‘Shedda’ (Shane Edwards), Jase (Castagna) . . .  I’ve missed a heap.

01:39

Liam Baker: 100 games

Watch the best of Liam Baker who will play his 100th AFL game in Saturday's match against Fremantle.

“It’s just going to be same again this year, if not the year after, and probably the year after that.

“The more I’ve been in footy, you realise that’s just the way footy works. Older blokes move on, and young boys come in. And it just keeps on going . . .

“People like myself, and my age group, need to step up when the older boys drop out.”