JUST three months after joining the Hawks, recruit Brian Lake is already aiming to earn back the Club’s respect following his off-field indiscretion on Saturday night.
Intoxicated in a public place in Sorrento, Lake faced the leadership group on Monday morning ahead of a training session at the Ricoh Centre, where it was decided he would aid victims of the Tasmanian bushfires.
Before his planning could begin, however, the full back is already hard at work regaining the respect of his teammates and coaches by taking part in a solid training run on the oval at the Ricoh Centre as well as an intense session in the weights room.
The former Bulldog admits the indiscretion is a setback at his new club.
“I’ve been at this club for three months, I’ve put my best foot forward in my training and my rehab from injuries and I’ve taken a lot of steps forward to gain the respect of the players and coaches and everyone involved at the football club,” he said at the Ricoh Centre on Monday.
“I see this as a reasonable step back, but what I’m looking forward to now is getting back to those previous three months and gaining that respect back from the players and everyone involved in the football club.”
At 30 years of age and amongst one of the most experienced on the Hawthorn list, Lake admits he made a mistake.
“As a mature guy, I should know better to leave a bit earlier than I did with my wife. Yes, I’ll learn but for me now it’s just to earn that respect again from the players,” he said.
“I’ve worked my butt off for three months to get my body right with the medical and fitness staff with goal they want me to get to.
“Having too many drinks on the weekend, yes I’ve taken a step back and there’s no credits in the bank. I’ve got to gain them by training hard.”
A remorseful Lake now has his sights on preparing for the Club’s opening pre-season matches on the Gold Coast.
With his body in as good a shape as at any time in his career, the veteran is looking forward to putting the issue behind him and instead focussing on working hard on the training track.
“I’ve just got to do what I need to do for this football club, I’m here for a certain reason and my job is to work my backside off, getting my body right, understanding how Hawthorn want to play and how I fit into the side – that’s my aim for the next couple of months and going into the NAB Cup,” he said.
“My knee is feeling fantastic, the shape I’m in at the moment is probably the best it’s been for a very long time in the way of strength and my skin folds – I’ve moved around the track very well.
