Despite his efforts Baker was again undrafted in that year's national and pre-season drafts. Under 18 National Championships  ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016 ! colspan=3| Career ! 3 ! 3 ! 32 ! 21 ! 52 ! 14 ! 8 ! 1.0 ! 10.7 ! 7.0 ! 17.3 ! 4.7 ! 2.7  Baker was drafted by with the club's first pick and the 18th selection overall in the 2018 AFL rookie draft in November 2017. He made his first appearance for the club in a series of AFLX exhibition matches in February 2018. Baker did not play in any of the club's pre-season matches however, nor did he earn senior selection in the early part of the home and away season. Instead, he spent the beginning of his debut year developing with the club's reserves side in the VFL. Baker's first starring performance at that level came in a midfield role in early May, when he recorded 24 disposals and four clearances against . The following week he added another 23 disposals and a goal in a win over the reserves. By early July Baker came into contention for senior selection and even traveled with the team to Sydney as an emergency in round 17. The following week he was played in a forward-line role at the lower level and recorded 19 disposals along with an equal-game high three goals. Baker earned an AFL debut on the back of the performance, turning in 12 disposals, five score involvements and two behinds in his side's round 19 win over at the MCG. He held his senior spot the following week, adding 14 disposals and another two behinds before being omitted from the club's round 21 side to face . He earned a third match in four weeks though when he was immediately recalled for the club's round 22 match against . There he kicked his first career goal but managed only a season-low eight disposals. A second senior omission followed, with Baker confined to VFL football for the remainder of the year. In the club's first VFL final he turned in a lively performance, recording 21 disposals in a qualifying final loss to . Baker was cited for rough contact in that match however, after he bumped Williamstown defender Peter Faulks underneath a marking contest. He accepted a one match suspension for the act and subsequently missed the club's losing semi-final against that saw the VFL side eliminated from the finals series. Baker finished the year having kicked one goal in three games at senior level while also kicking 13 goals in 14 games with the reserves side in the VFL.