Brian Lake to the Hawks - Rejoice, we have a gorilla defender in our midst

[InterestedOnlooker]

Anyone doubting Brian Lake as anything but a great get for us needs to view his highlights package from this year which is now up on the hawthornfc website.

Don't kid yourselves, he is exactly what we lacked and needed. When was the last time you saw marking in the Hawks defence like that....Hodge in 08??? And he's a pretty good swingman too I might add!

That makes Shoey, Roughy and now Lake that could potentially be swingmen depending on match ups and who's winning individual contests on game day.

Love our recruiting team....target someone to cover a specific need and get it done early! Thank Christ we didn't fall into paying overs for Josh Hill from the dogs a couple of years back and ended up with Jack Gunston instead

I just love my Hawks...1 step further next year now boys!

 

[The BIG X]

You might have our Lakey, but we still get his firstborn

Not too worried - I will be dead then

 

[Gene Simmons]

First round pick for a 30 year old (turns 31 in Feb)? This smells of desperation. Not overly happy at all, but will be happy to be proven wrong....

Believe it or not, we are in the middle of a premiership window..

We will get 2-3 solid years out of Lake..

 

[_Mike_]

The trade - Lake and pick 27 for Pick 21 (first round) and pick 41 (2nd round)

From a Dogs supporters perspective, here's my thoughts

- Lake was a free agent at the end of next season so we potentially could have gotten less or nothing
- He wont be around the next time we're playing finals
- Frees up salary room as its reported that we are also chasing Dawes
- gives us the opportunity of developing a young KPD to replace him for the near future

Personally I have no ill feelings towards Lake and wish him all the best. He's more a chance of a premiership now than he will be for the remainder of his career at the Dogs. He'll fit into the structure well enough and also can be used as a pinch hitter up forward.

Hope he does well at the Hawks, good luck

 

[Neville Bartos]

An interesting comparison is:

Darren Glass (2012 AA back-pocket), Born: 14 May 1981
Luke McPharlin (2012 AA Centre-half-back), Born: 1 December 1981
Matthew Scarlett (2011 AA Back-pocket), Born: 5 June 1979
Chris Tarrant, Born: 18 September 1980
Ben Rutten (Past AA Full-Back), Born: 28 May 1983
Ted Richards (2012 AA Full-back), Born: 11 January 1983

Brian Lake (2009 & 2010 AA Full-Back), Born: 27 February 1982

McPharlin is 30, Glass is 31, Scarlett retired at 33, Rutten is 29, Richards is 29, Tarrant retired at 32

All of these guys are or have been the premier full-backs of the AFL for the last 5 years including Richards who had a break-out year at 29! He could easily play at least another 3 years for us and who's to say that he can't go past 33 like Fletcher, Silvagni, Dench etc.

 

[Flukey!]

^^ Good post Nev.

 

[GetDimmaBack]

An interesting comparison is:

Darren Glass (2012 AA back-pocket), Born: 14 May 1981
Luke McPharlin (2012 AA Centre-half-back), Born: 1 December 1981
Matthew Scarlett (2011 AA Back-pocket), Born: 5 June 1979
Chris Tarrant, Born: 18 September 1980
Ben Rutten (Past AA Full-Back), Born: 28 May 1983
Ted Richards (2012 AA Full-back), Born: 11 January 1983

Brian Lake (2009 & 2010 AA Full-Back), Born: 27 February 1982

McPharlin is 30, Glass is 31, Scarlett retired at 33, Rutten is 29, Richards is 29, Tarrant retired at 32

All of these guys are or have been the premier full-backs of the AFL for the last 5 years including Richards who had a break-out year at 29! He could easily play at least another 3 years for us and who's to say that he can't go past 33 like Fletcher, Silvagni, Dench etc.

I hope that is the case, as Brian has been a good servant of the Dogs and i wish him well as a Hawk.
It's his previous injuries that are a worry, though. Three major operations at the end of 2010, and a year's worth of recovery.
Every time Brian limped out of a contest this year, Dogs fans held their collective breath. Hopefully he's over all his problems, but if he re-injures himself, it could take him ages to get back. At 31 before the start of next season, that has to be the worry with him.
He was good in 2012, but nothing like his AA best of a few seasons earlier. Actually, it was a bit freaky to see him beaten a couple of times by Josh Hill in round 1...that would never have happened before, even at training!
Let's hope all stays well with him.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

The trade - Lake and pick 27 for Pick 21 (first round) and pick 41 (2nd round)

From a Dogs supporters perspective, here's my thoughts

- Lake was a free agent at the end of next season so we potentially could have gotten less or nothing
- He wont be around the next time we're playing finals
- Frees up salary room as its reported that we are also chasing Dawes
- gives us the opportunity of developing a young KPD to replace him for the near future

Personally I have no ill feelings towards Lake and wish him all the best. He's more a chance of a premiership now than he will be for the remainder of his career at the Dogs. He'll fit into the structure well enough and also can be used as a pinch hitter up forward.

Hope he does well at the Hawks, good luck

Good to hear - thanks Mike.

Just think that you guys could and should have gotten a lot more for him. Everything you say is spot on, but if you're replacing Lake with Dawes on your list, even with the length of service that CD would provide, I think it's a step backwards.

 

[Klem]

Kicking straight at goals.

Even if Lake is a complete bust and never plays a single game, we still have the same team that finished on top and nearly won the flag.

All we lose is pick 41 which we'll get back if if Young goes as a FA.

He won't be a magic bullet but he adds a bit too a team that is the best Going around but if we kick 11 goals from 28 shots in a knock out final we won't win.

What he said !
Back line performed well with Shoey doing ok most games.
Midfield was amazing and pumped the ball forward and were tough and hard.
Forward line has been kicking badly for 4 years except for the odd game. Game after game we should have teams down for the count early but always seem to kick point after point.
Cost us a spot in the grand final last year, almost cost us getting into the final this year and surprise surprise cost us the premiership.

But Lake will help.

 

[Hawks1994]

Don't get me wrong here, Brian Lake is a terrific player and I hope he does well...

BUT...

Do we actually need him??
Who gets dropped out of the back six for him??

 

[mullumbimbyhawk]

I think he will be good and will give his all as I am sure he feels he has a real crack at a premiership playing at the Hawks. This will motivate him.

 

[Glasgow Hawk]

I want to be pleased, but I just don't know. There is no doubt that over the years he has been a very good FB, but he is nearly 31. I wanna have faith in the recruiters that they know what they are doing. But again, I say, I just don't know. I guess I'll just have to reserve my judgement on Brian. That all said, welcome to the Hawthorn Football Club.

 

[Dragz]

If Young goes, Birchall to the wing?

 

[Axle17]

Please dont let this be another cam bruce story.
Is lake ready to go rd1?

Also who comes out for him?

 

[Hawthorn23]

Don't get me wrong here, Brian Lake is a terrific player and I hope he does well...

BUT...

Do we actually need him??
Who gets dropped out of the back six for him??

If Clinton leaves, we might see Birch on a wing so Lake has a spot.

Our backline would look like this:

B: Gibson Lake Stratton
HB: Suckling Schoenmakers Guerra

 

[Hawthorn23]

Oh, just forgot, what injury did he have in '11

 

[Hawks1994]

If Clinton leaves, we might see Birch on a wing so Lake has a spot.

Our backline would look like this:

B: Gibson Lake Stratton
HB: Suckling Schoenmakers Guerra

Suppose that could be an outcome...
Still think it was a pretty bad choice...

 

[Rioli magic]

Suppose that could be an outcome...
Still think it was a pretty bad choice...

You think we'll be a worse team with Lake?

 

[walhawk]

If Lake shows form, Shoe or Stratts goes forward or to Box Hill.

 

[Jaeger]

You've already got a team full of stars, which didn't help get you over the line. One weakness remains - the wet patch between the ears - unfortunately there is no trade to fix that.

Nice first post muppet.

 

[Cdreamer]

About bloody time

 

[stefoid]

Seeing Lake running around against us in a Hawthorn jumper is going to make me livid. He will toy with our young forwards. ****

 

[QuietB]

A defender who can take a mark!?!

And if that doesn't confuse the hell out of em he is a right footer as well

 

[Jack Gun Cyril Stun]

I think if we get 2 solid years out of him its a win. He doesnt have to be in AA form either.
He will just help settle things down in the back end and it probably means we will not have 3 of our defenders all trying to spoil at once - a la Goodes' goal in the last quarter last week.
We all hold our breath with the long ball against the likes of Cloke, Hawkins / Pod, Tippet etc.

But it frees up Gibson a little and Hodge especially which is absoloutely massive.

And what if 2013 is a replay of Hawks v Swans?!, we need someone to play on Tippett now!!

 

[Hawkas1988]

Suppose that could be an outcome...
Still think it was a pretty bad choice...

You're kidding?

How much better does our backline look now that Lake is listed at FB, frees up Gibbo to play amore effective 3rd man up role, he,lps Schoey develop playing on second forward and we hardly gave up much to get him, we addressed our biggest weakness. Massive win for the club!