Lake to play game 250

HAWTHORN defender Brian Lake will play his 250^th AFL match in Friday night’s preliminary final against Fremantle at Domain Stadium.

The 33-year-old joined the Hawks prior to the 2013 season, after playing 197 games with the Western Bulldogs.

Friday night’s match will be his 21^st for the season, and his 53^rd in the brown and gold.

Lake’s three seasons to date at Hawthorn have been successful both individually and for the club.

The Hawks have won premierships in both of Lake’s completed seasons – and are chasing a third this season – with the key defender winning the Norm Smith Medal in 2013.

Lake brought up his half century for Hawthorn in the final round of the home-and-away season, and described his time so far at the club as “really enjoyable”.

“I’m now in my third year at Hawthorn and I feel like it has gone quickly,” he said prior to his 50^th club match.

“It’s been sensational.

“I needed a change and I was looking for team success… I’d been close to that with the Bulldogs and I wanted to get that before I finished football.

“There’s been some really big highs and some hiccups along the way, but it’s been great.”

One of the best key defenders of the past decade – and one of the competition’s real characters – Lake by his own admission was a “bargain” at pick 71 in the 2001 National Draft.

He has enjoyed a stellar on-field career in his 14 AFL seasons – earning All Australian selection as a defender on two occasions (2009 and 2010) and winning the Bulldogs’ club best and fairest award in 2007.

He will play in his 20^th AFL final on Friday night.