Baker cops seven matches

no matter whether the three-man jury believed Farmer's version of events or Baker's version of events (and in handing down their decision jury chairman Wayne Henwood said they accepted Baker's version) that the contact still equated to rough conduct because it was unnecessary in the circumstances given that it occurred so far off the ball.

The jury agreed and after a deliberation of about 30 minutes found Baker guilty of engaging in rough conduct in a reckless manner.

They also found that the impact was high and the contact was high equating to a base tally of 425 points or a four-game suspension.

But because of Baker's recent tribunal record this was increased to 722.5 points or a seven-match ban because he had a carryover of 127 points for two striking offences from earlier this year while his base tally was increased by 40 per cent because of a total of four weeks in previous suspensions over the past three seasons.

The suspension means the tough tagger will not only miss the Saints' last two home-and-away games - which they need to win to hold onto eighth spot - but also all of the club's finals campaign if they make it regardless of how they fare in September.

And even if the Saints make it to the grand final, Baker will still be missing from the opening game of next season.

His penalty is even higher than that handed down to Collingwood's Ben Johnson, who copped six matches for his frightening head-high bump on Melbourne's Daniel Bell, and to Byron Pickett for a similar offence during the 2005 pre-season competition while Collingwood's Brodie Holland also copped six matches for rough conduct for his shirt-front on now retired Bulldog Brett Montgomery during last year's elimination final.