THERE'S tagging and there's tagging.If you're going do the job, make sure it is within the rules.The AFL sounded this message loud and clear when it cracked down on St Kilda's Steven Baker this week.His suspension was no surprise.The severity of the 12-match ban _ reduced to nine with pleas _ was.Baker has always been the type of player who will do what it takes to negate the opposition.It doesn't matter if he doesn't get a touch. As long he stops his opponent.Everyone with this type of role steps over the line at sometimes. It might be as simple as grabbing a jumper at a stoppage.He went way too far _ especially targeting Steve Johnson's broken hand _ and now everyone is going to be monitored much closer all round.This will not necessarily mean more reports, but more free kicks are well and truly on the cards, especially early in a match as the tone is set.It will make it more difficult to get an edge in a one-on-one battle.I should know.It was as a tagger that I got my break with Hawthorn.I had done a bit in my junior football and when I arrived at the Hawks I soon realised this was the role I needed to develop to break into the team.I quickly became accustomed to playing on the most dangerous small forward.While it might sound like a job which is the exactly the same week-in week-out, it is anything but.Different players require different tactics.You need to be flexible and know your opponent's idiosyncrasies. Some will get off their game in reaction to a constant physical barrage.Others do not like constant talk.However, you have to pick your mark carefully.Geelong's Paul Chapman is not one you to try get into the ear of. The more talking you do to him, the better he gets.He is a player that you have to get into the back pocket of and stay there. As my career has gone on, I have been able to develop the attacking side of my game, while retaining a run-with role.I still have the responsibility of shutting down players, but once we're in a contest it is all about winning possession.For youngsters at any level of the game, running with a star of the game can be a great learning curve.What better way of getting to the contest than following the best?Of course, once you're there the stopping role must be enacted.This isn't easy, but you're at the contest and a chance to deny them possession and get the football in your own hands.Geelong's Cameron Ling is one of hardest taggers I've seen.He's very good.Ling knows how to smother the effectiveness of the most dangerous attackers in the game.I enjoy playing it hard and will continue to do so.That's my style.I have never been reported and have no plans to modify my approach.It is going to be tougher performing a stopping role with the umpires hot on anything which pushes the rules to the limit or of course breaks them.In the wash-up, Steven Baker achieved what he set out to do _ nullify Stevie Johnson and help the Saints get a victory.He has paid a hefty price with actions which will have a lasting impact on the competition.* Brad Sewell played his junior football with Newlyn in the Central Highlands Football League.Hawthorn recruited Sewell from North Ballarat Rebels via the 2002 rookie draft and has played more than 100 games for the Hawks.The 25-year-old was promoted to the Hawthorn senior list in 2003, making his AFL debut in 2004.Sewell played in Hawthorn's 2008 premiership team and won the 2007 best and fairest.Sewell's column is published exclusively in The Courier every second Saturday.