With Oskar Baker being added to the Western Bulldogs’ list this month, he will become the fourth Bulldog to have the surname Baker when he makes his senior debut.

However, the former Demon won't be the first to have played for both the Dogs and Melbourne. The Bulldogs' most recent Baker – Garry – played 14 games for Footscray in 1972-73 before he moved to the Demons where he carved out a successful 127-game career as a ruck/key forward. That figure would have been much higher if not for a debilitating knee injury.

Oskar joins the Bulldogs having played 15 games for Melbourne, and he and Western Bulldogs will be hoping his career trajectory mirrors Garry's (minus the injuries) with many successful seasons to come at VU Whitten Oval.

The first of the Bulldog Baker boys was Harry, a local from Kingsville who joined Footscray in 1926 and gave the Dogs fine service as a half back in 111 games over nine seasons.

In Harry Baker's last senior VFL season he was joined in team by another Baker – Ted, a former Carlton, Collingwood and Geelong player who was part of the Cats' 1931 premiership win.

Ted Baker was not related to Harry, but he did have two brothers that played league football: Reg (Collingwood and Richmond) and Selwyn (North Melbourne and Collingwood).

A total of 22 Bakers have played VFL/AFL football – just enough for a full team! Bulldogs fans will no doubt be hoping to see Oskar join Ted (Geelong 1931), Phil (North Melbourne 1977), Leon (Essendon 1984-85) and Liam (Richmond 2019-20) as premiership Bakers.

Bulldog Bakers:

Harry Baker: FOOTSCRAY 111 games, 19 goals 1926-34

Ted Baker: Carlton 1 game 1920, Collingwood 43 games 1922-23 & 1932, Geelong 95 games 1927-32, FOOTSCRAY 3 games, 5 goals 1934

Garry Baker: FOOTSCRAY 14 games, 9 goals 1972-73, Melbourne 127 games 1974-81, Sydney 6 games 1983

Oskar Baker: Melbourne 15 games 2019-22, WESTERN BULLDOGS 2023–