Bauer's junior football was played with the Under 12s with the Wollondilly Redbacks until U12s, U17 with the Western Suburbs and Inner West Magpies in the Sydney AFL.

Bauer was a member of the Sydney Swans Academy.

[2] After going undrafted in the AFL national draft, he began the 2022 season playing for North Adelaide in the SANFL.

[3] Bauer played the next year for the Richmond reserves, notably kicking after-the-siren game winning goals in two separate matches during June 2023.

[4] He made his senior debut for Richmond in round 17 of the 2023 season, but suffered a match-ending hamstring injury less than two minutes into the game substituted of.