Oskar Baker Biography

Four Bulldogs have been told they will not be offered contracts for 2027, including Oskar Baker, Harvey Gallagher, Lachlan Smith and Zac Walker.

"Oskar, Harvey, Lachie and Zac have all been popular and dedicated members of our playing group and we thank them for their contributions to the Western Bulldogs," Bulldogs executive manager men's football Sam Power said.

"They are terrific people who will always be welcome back at Mission Whitten Oval."

Nick Coffield and Oskar Baker have both secured contracts to play on at the Whitten Oval again in 2026.

The pair were forced to wait until after 2025 Toyota AFL Trade Period to be offered deals, but have now signed one-year extensions.

Oskar Baker has worn a black armband in all 45 of his games for the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne and every other game over the past eight years in memory of his mother Trudie.

"Mum was always my biggest supporter growing up. Footy wasn't that easy for me; I had some challenges, getting cut from the Brisbane Lions' Academy, told I wasn't good enough multiple occasions, too small, wasn't going to make it," Baker said.

"Mum kept telling me that I was going to make it. When she fell sick, it was when I started to get some interest from clubs. I made the promise to her on her deathbed that I'd make it to an AFL club. She obviously wasn't around to see it happen, but it was incredibly special when that happened."

Oskar Baker makes his AFL debut for Melbourne at Perth Stadium with 10 disposals (6 kicks and 4 handballs), 3 marks and a tackle in a 16-point loss to West Coast.

Oskar Baker's hopes of a late-season debut have been dashed with the promising midfielder to miss up to six weeks with a hamstring injury

Baker suffered the injury to his hamstring while playing for Casey against the Northern Blues at Casey Fields.

Baker had been in excellent form in the VFL and has been around the mark in terms of AFL selection during the last six weeks after a mid-season purple patch.

Oskar Baker fulfilled a promise to his late mother when he was drafted by Melbourne with pick No.48 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft.

"Mum was, in many ways, my biggest fan and I actually promised her that I'd get on an AFL list and to actually achieve that it was a pretty significant moment in my life," Baker said.

"With everything that happened, it motivated me to be a better footballer and a better person on and off the field."