LIAM Baker has found his feet in Richmond's best 22, and the young Tiger has a string of sliding doors moments to thank for a mid-season shift to the backline that made it happen.

The 21-year-old, who was rookied as a small forward/midfielder at the end of 2017, found himself in the VFL after the bye when a run of quiet games coincided with a host of experienced heads overcoming injuries.

But it took a mid-game injury to a VFL teammate for coach Craig McRae to send Baker to defence and it's a position that has proved more natural than anyone expected.  

"It's surprised me a bit," Baker told AFL.com.au this week.

"'Dimma' [Damien Hardwick] mentioned it and then I was excited to do it but I didn't really know how it was going to happen. 

"It worked out well, they liked what they saw and I've been in as a defender since and getting more comfortable as the weeks go by.

"This is probably the most I've enjoyed and the most comfortable I've felt at AFL level." 

The move suited Baker's game so well, he was recalled to the AFL team in round 18 as a defender.

Since then, he's been learning from the vocal and experienced Tigers' tight-knit backline group who "did half the job" for him when he first came in.

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"Dimma's real big on changing things up and playing multiple roles," Baker said.  

"He sees that as my strength, that I can do different roles and hopefully down the track I can be like a Shane Edwards-type where I can go everywhere. 

"You can see a lot from back there. I've never had so much joy over watching the other forwards kick goals.

"It's amazing how your mindset changes. Even when I was kicking them, I wasn't enjoying them as much as I am watching the other boys do it." 

Such is the optimism with Baker's newfound versatility, he signed a two-year contract extension last month in a move that demonstrated commitment runs both ways.

The Tigers like what they see with the young speedster, and in turn, Baker is just as happy to stay despite continuing pangs to return to his native Western Australia.  

He misses "home home"; as in not just WA, but his family wheat and sheep farm in Pingaring, three and a half hours outside Perth, where he spends most of his holidays.  

"As I get older, the more I'm missing it," he said.

"But it is what it is, I always wanted to play footy in Melbourne and I've got to take that opportunity while I can."

That opportunity will likely afford him the biggest audience he's ever played in front of this Friday night when the Tigers take on Geelong in the preliminary final.

It's a long way from where he was 12 months ago when he didn't figure in September at all and missed one of the Tigers' two VFL finals because of suspension.  

"I was a bit spewing about the week off because I just wanted to get into it," he said.

"It's such an exciting time of the year and we'll prepare the way we always do and hopefully the crowd get behind us and it should be an exciting night."