Steven Baker Biography

Former St Kilda hard man Steven Baker is banned from football for life after his involvement in an incident while playing for Sorrento.

Baker, who played 203 games for the Saints, was called before the Mornington Peninsula Football League tribunal after an incident that left Red Hill player Blake Thompson with a broken jaw on March 9.

The former AFL tagger was found not guilty of striking and not guilty of charging, but was found guilty of a rough conduct charge despite a lack of video evidence. The three field umpires also told the hearing they didn't see anything.

Baker was given a six-week suspension, but because that ban took him beyond a nationwide 16-week career suspension limit he was told he coudn't play football again at any level.

Former St Kilda hardman Steven Baker says injured players "should be targeted" by opponents if they remain on the field of play.

"I think if you're on the ground you're a target and you should be targeted if you've got an injury," he said during an interview with Mike Sheahan.

"It's a man's game. It's been getting soft over the last four or five years - they're changing the rules to suit the umpires and not the players, making it easier to mediate rather than a better game to watch."

After leaving St Kilda at the end of 2011 under controversial circumstances, defender Steven Baker says he's open to the idea of playing on at AFL level next year.

"I've got a few mates interstate at a few different clubs, so I wouldn't mind getting away for a year, it wouldn't be a long-term thing, but one year, why not?" Baker said.

"I've got a meeting with my manager next week and we'll have a good chat about it. I'm feeling good and there's no reason I couldn't do it. I've got no doubt I could go one more year."

Tenacious Saints veteran Steven Baker has had to become more versatile in 2011.

"I think what he needs to do, where the game's gone, you need to be able to play more than one position," Lyon said about Baker's role this season.

"If you just see yourself as a small back, with three on the interchange it's too difficult. You need to be able to go forward and midfield."

St Kilda has confirmed that Lenny Hayes and Steven Baker were involved in an incident at a South Yarra nightclub Love Machine on Monday morning.

St Kilda ruckman Ben McEvoy says he was surprised to be dropped for the 2010 grand final in favour of Steven Baker who returns from a 13-week suspension, but respects the match committee's decision.

"I didn't know it was coming but you are never guaranteed a game in the AFL, no matter who you are," McEvoy said at the grand final parade.

"You can't take it for granted. It was a bit of a shock, but that is the way it goes."

Steven Baker is expected to return from a 9-week suspension in time for the finals despite reportedly fracturing a bone in his foot.

"He'll play next week in a scratch match. He'll run tomorrow and train and the aim is for him to play next week," Saints coach Ross Lyon said.

"That's the plan and we're confident it will happen. I was more confident - he would have been under no doubt picked to play but we'll need to see with that little hiccup he's had how he's going."

Sydney forward Ryan O'Keefe says he supports the decision by the match review panel to suspend Steven Baker for 12 weeks for engaging in illegal harrassment of Geelong forward Steve Johnson.

"That sort of stuff in the game, you can't tolerate and you [must] protect the ball players. If you're going to be a good player, you shouldn't have to fear someone just belting you all day," O'Keefe.

"I think the AFL's made the correct decision and I think we've got to stamp that out."

Steven Baker's father reacts angrily to the AFL's decision to hand down a 12-week suspension on his son.

"He's absolutely shattered ... what's the next penalty? Going to the electric chair?" Greg Baker said to the Herald Sun.

St Kilda's Steven Baker will miss the next nine weeks after he accepting an early guilty plea for all three striking charges.

The Saints challenged a misconduct offence for unnecessary contact with an injured player in Geelong forward Steve Johnson but failed to overturn the verdict.

After various indiscretions against Geelong's Steve Johnson, St Kilda's Steven Baker faces a record 12-week ban handed down by the match review panel which can be reduced to nine games on an early guilty plea.

Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says the AFL has been out to get Steven Baker since 2006.

"They can deny it as much as they like, but if the AFL can look the public and the clubs and the players in the eye and categorically deny they didn't give advice or influence or direction to the match review panel, I will go he," Thomas said.

"Either the match review panel has second-guessed the AFL and said, 'We better do something or we will lose our jobs', or the AFL has said, 'There is a little bit too much of this going on, so you better make a statement'. There is no other explanation for the gross inconsistency."

Injuries have grounded Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes, Brendon Goddard and Steven Baker for Saturday's clash with Hawthorn with the Saints taking a cautious approach in the lead up to the finals.

St Kilda star Steven Baker's mum says she is proud he turned the other cheek after being attacked as he left a pub in his home town.

"I'm super proud Steve didn't retaliate," she said. "I'm sure a few years ago he would have.

"If he'd reacted, it could have been an all-in. We just laughed about it and I said it might pay to stay at home."

St Kilda has revealed onballer Steven Baker was attacked at a Colac hotel on the weekend.

"The St Kilda Football Club can confirm that there was a minor incident at a Colac hotel on the weekend involving Steven Baker when he was home visiting family during the AFL split-round," the statement said.

"Steven was out enjoying an evening with family and friends in his home town when he was approached and struck by another hotel patron. Steven is uninjured and back training with the Club today in preparation for the Round 13 game against Richmond this coming Sunday.

"It was an unfortunate event for Steven and his friends however police were not involved at any stage and as we believe these versions of events to be true and correct, the matter is closed."

Steven Baker returns to the Saints side after spending months on the sideline due to suspension and injury.

"It is good to play footy. It seems like I have been on the sidelines for five years, just watching the boys. It's good to be back and I am happy to be just playing every week and doing my part for the team," Baker said.

Steven Baker returns on Friday with another five senior Saints playing their first pre-season games.