With the 2014 season now complete, hawthornfc.com.au will review the season of those who played a senior game for the Hawks in 2014 with the help of GM - Football Operations, Chris Fagan.
 

He was the story of the 2013 premiership and while 2014 had the same ending, this season was a challenging one for Brian Lake.

Again, the veteran full back proved to be a vital cog in Hawthorn’s premiership team as he provided that grunt and ability to take on the big forwards of the opposition but he had to prove to himself and to his team he was worthy of his spot in the side.

The 32 year old played just 11 of 25 games for the year after being suspended for a total of seven games and missing five due to injury.

His season didn’t begin until Round 6, forced to get match fitness in the VFL before making his first appearance for 2014 but he lasted just over a game, injuring his calf against the Saints in Round 7.

Lake returned in Round 14 and was good against Collingwood but two weeks later he found himself under fire for an off the ball incident with Roo, Drew Petrie.

In fact, the most consecutive games Lake managed for the year was six - from Round 21 onwards - and that’s when he played his best footy.

Lake was able to put the disappointment of the incident with Petrie behind him when he returned against Fremantle and became the power force the Hawks needed down back to shore up the defence.

Despite copping critiscm from fans and the media, Lake let his footy do the talking.

Two of his best performances were reserved for clashes against Geelong, when he held Tom Hawkins in the vital second half as the Hawks overrun the Cats and held him again to just seven disposals and a goal in the Qualifying Final.

But his masterpiece, like his team’s, was saved for Grand Final day.

While he didn’t win the Norm Smith Medal like last year, Lake’s game was just as impressive as he blanketed Sydney Swans star Kurt Tippett and even when asked, stopped Lance Franklin.

Despite being in his fifteenth AFL season, Lake moved as well as he has in his entire career on the last Saturday in September and too, during the entire finals series.

He matched it with Tippett in strength and on Franklin with his agility, at times leaving many in awe of his ability to spoil when he appears beaten.

Far from a one-trick pony, Lake continued to provide an option out of defence, adding to his team’s already powerful rebounding ability.

He averaged 13.9 disposals and 5.5 marks this season and continued to back in his ability to read the play and the ball coming in off the boot of the opposition.

Speaking volumes to that is the fact he actually finished the season equal fifth for average marks taken per game and sixth for one percenters despite playing considerably less games than his teammates.

The now dual premiership Hawk has signed on for season 2015 and with the addition of unrestricted free agent James Frawley, will look to build an even more impenetrable Hawthorn defence next year.

What GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said: “What a story. It was a pretty scratchy year for ‘Lakey’ really - he was suspended from last year’s Grand Final so missed early games and then struggled with a calf injury before coming back and was just getting going when he had that unfortunate incident with Drew Petrie and was suspended again.

“It set him back but when he returned he produced the goods again on the big key forwards from the opposition team. He does some things on the footy field that completely frustrate everybody in the coaches box but then he does so many good things on really tough opponents that you can only admire.

“He really helped us this finals series again to win the cup.”
 

Brian Lake in the news in 2014
- Lake commits for 2015
- Fresh Lake ready for Swans showdown
- Lake’s hunger still burns

Videos featuring Brian Lake in 2014
- Lake pumped to be back
- Brian Lake #discovered
- #everymoment: Lake