BRIAN Lake has been to every AFL Grand Final since he was drafted.

He does it, he says, to remind himself just how much he wants to be out on the field, rather than in the stands.

For all the success the 31-year-old has enjoyed – including a club best and fairest, two All Australian selections and four finals series with the Western Bulldogs – never playing in a Grand Final is the major gap in his résumé.

It is why he traded in the chance to be a 200-game Bulldog, and a one-club player, for another shot at September glory.

"I go to the Grand Final just to hurt a little bit more," Lake said on Monday.

"You see the crowd, you see the atmosphere, and it's just something you want to be part of."

It was in pursuit of his premiership dream that Lake crossed to Hawthorn during last year's trade period, once it became clear the Bulldogs were set for a rebuild.

As such, it will be a brown and gold banner he breaks ahead of his 200^th AFL match against the Sydney Swans on Saturday night.

The change of scenery has worked wonders for the key defender.

He's 5kg lighter, mentally fresh, and free of injury worries.

"It's definitely freshened me up, there's no doubt about that," Lake said.

"Being at the same club for so long, you probably get a little bit complacent about the things you do, and the attitude around the club as well.

"To come to a club that's pushing for the ultimate success, it definitely gives you a little bit more energy and excitement."

In 197 games at the Bulldogs, Lake – whose surname was Harris when he started at the Whitten Oval in 2002 – experienced almost every up and down the game has to offer. From the lows of players being asked to accept 15 per cent pay cuts as the club fought for survival in 2003, to the highs of successive preliminary finals in 2008, 2009 and 2010 under Rodney Eade.

Then there was the testing year of 2011, when Lake struggled to regain form and fitness after three pre-season surgeries, and became the poster boy for the Bulldogs' tumble down the ladder.

"It was a tough year," he said.

"It wasn't a happy place to be. I knew myself that I could get back, but there were just so many injuries in such a short space of time.

"You definitely lose a lot of self confidence when everyone's having a crack at you for your performances and your attitude as well.

"It definitely wasn't easy."

The picture could not be more different this season.

Lean and fit after a strong summer of training – a calf injury setback during the NAB Cup aside – Lake once again has complete confidence in his body.

"It's been a long time since I've pulled up this well after games," he said.

"It's not like I'm not doing as much running as I've done previously – I'm doing a lot more running than at any time in my career.

"It feels like I'm 23 or 24 again. It's unbelievable."

The drop in weight came at the behest of Hawthorn's fitness staff and coach Alastair Clarkson, who felt Lake needed to alter his body shape to adjust to the running requirements of the modern game.

He started training in the Waverley Park gym the day after his trade, long before his new teammates were back from holidays.

"As soon as the trade got done, I was on the phone to the fitness staff and the coach about what to do now; I was really keen to get the ball rolling," he said.

"I'd had a good four or five weeks off, so I thought there was no better time.

"When you first get to a new club you want to earn the respect of your teammates and not miss a beat."

That preparation, combined with the excitement building at the Hawks after a strong 5-1 start to the season, has Lake feeling he could play on well beyond game 200.

But the passing of the milestone will be a time to reflect on a career that was almost over before it started, given he was overlooked at the 2000 draft.

He'll forever hold affection for the Bulldogs, the club that gave him a chance a year later, and where he went on to spend 11 seasons.

"I haven't got much time left, and I couldn't see in the next couple of years at the Bulldogs that they'd be pushing for the ultimate success," he said.

"No doubt I'll still keep a keen eye on the club.

"I'm a life member and played 197 games with them, so they're still going to be in my heart somewhere."