Brian Lake to Hawthorn

[Bornadog]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

Lake traded to Hawks

The Western Bulldogs today announced that the Club has traded Brian Lake to Hawthorn in exchange for the Hawks first two selections (currently 21 and 41) in the 2012 AFL National Draft.

Importantly this includes a first round draft pick which will leave the club with three first round drafts picks in the upcoming National Draft.

To ensure the Western Bulldogs secured its third first National Draft pick - it has exchanged a second round selection (27) as part of the trade.

Following the trade, the Western Bulldogs now hold six picks inside 50.

List Manager Jason McCartney said the trade placed the Club in an unprecedented position as they entered the National Draft in November.

“The accumulation of six picks inside 50 presents the opportunity the likes of which this Club has not seen before to recruit the core list around which we will build the future of this football club,” McCartney said today.

“In an increasingly competitive environment our future success going forward is contingent on what we do today and given the stage Brian’s career is at - we see this as a very good proposition for the Club.

“We thank Brian for his contribution to the football club.

“In what is an exciting time for the Club we are looking forward to continuing to develop the team under Brendan McCartney,” McCartney said.

[The Underdog]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

Two things - Brian's body is more durable than both Tom Williams and Dale Morris. Also this isn't for a 1st round pick - it is for a 6 pick upgrade from 27 to 21 - big difference.

He is under contract and Hawthorn can't wait another year for the KPD stocks while they are in premiership window time. We had leverage right here and now and IMO we've given away Lake for far less than we should have.

It's a 6 pick upgrade and an end of 2nd round pick.

[Bornadog]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

To play in finals?

With Brian's body he would have 2-3 yrs max, we have got a first round pick for a 31 year old who wants to play finals. As I said if he suggested he wanted too leave later I don't have a problem with this trade.

Sorry, I can't have that. You just don't get rid of players like that. We have a history of doing this. The fans have had enough of this crap.

[always right]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

Not arguing whether the trade is equal or not....from my point of view we appear to be slightly on the negative side of the ledger......but posters often complain about how we tend to hold onto players that one year too long. Here's a case where the club has taken a punt on some short term pain (debatable) for potential long term gain.

Lake has been a great player for us...perhaps our best ever full back. There were however clear signs this season that he was well and truly in the final phase of his career. His pace had dropped off, his overhead marking didn't seem as assured, and opposition coaches seemed to have worked out how to exploit his deficiencies....just tell Lake's opponent to lead

So offloading him now gives us the opportunity to grab another young draftee with an eye to the future. The worst thing that could happen is Lake feels re-energised and plays in a premiership with the Hawks. Good luck to him....it's not as if we are a finals chance next year anyway so what is there to lose?

[Grantysghost]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

Lake traded to Hawks

The Western Bulldogs today announced that the Club has traded Brian Lake to Hawthorn in exchange for the Hawks first two selections (currently 21 and 41) in the 2012 AFL National Draft.

.

This first paragraph is complete spin. No mention of the trade down (27 -> 21) until further along.

[chef]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

Sorry, I can't have that. You just don't get rid of players like that. We have a history of doing this. The fans have had enough of this crap.

Didn't he want to leave to play finals?

Or is there more to it?

[KT31]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

As if this morning was not bad enough, now they have done this to us.
Turning off, need some time to work out how we have been screwed again.
#$%^

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

Bold and Interesting move

Thanks Bryza for some of the best footy years of my life, and some of the best full back play I've ever seen

You will always be welcome back

[Greystache]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

Sorry, I can't have that. You just don't get rid of players like that. We have a history of doing this. The fans have had enough of this crap.

And when he wants to leave next year for nothing should we celebrate that we got one more year out of him than he wanted?

[jeemak]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

Not arguing whether the trade is equal or not....from my point of view we appear to be slightly on the negative side of the ledger......but posters often complain about how we tend to hold onto players that one year too long. Here's a case where the club has taken a punt on some short term pain (debatable) for potential long term gain.

Lake has been a great player for us...perhaps our best ever full back. There were however clear signs this season that he was well and truly in the final phase of his career. His pace had dropped off, his overhead marking didn't seem as assured, and opposition coaches seemed to have worked out how to exploit his deficiencies....just tell Lake's opponent to lead

So offloading him now gives us the opportunity to grab another young draftee with an eye to the future. The worst thing that could happen is Lake feels re-energised and plays in a premiership with the Hawks. Good luck to him....it's not as if we are a finals chance next year anyway so what is there to lose?

I tend to agree with this line of thinking.

As far as compensation for Lake was concerned I wasn't really convinced he was worth a stand alone first round draft pick, due to his age and the likelihood his body could slow him down. I wonder if we were on the other end of the deal, in contention for a flag would our supporter base be happy in sending off our first draft pick for a 31 year old previously elite full back?

I wouldn't have thought so, personally.

The negative types will look at this trade and state the coach had it in for him and wanted him gone, but the same coach that is to blame for Minson not making the top ten in the vote count this year found a spot for Brian Lake in there.

Perhaps it's just a case of the club and the player doing what is best for themselves, nothing more, nothing less. It's not sexy and doesn't satisfy the needs of some around here, but maybe that's all it was.

Thanks for your services Brian.

[LongWait]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

One way to look at the trade is:

Pick 21 and a downgrade of our second round pick to Dogs in exchange for Lake.

Pask has made it clear that we were going to lose Lake in a year - why would we keep Lake for a year when he doesn't want to stay, paying Lake a massive salary, only to recieve almost no compensation.

This way we get another first round pick. You want all players to be fully invested - not just taking the money until they move on to greener pastures.

[always right]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

I'm desparately hoping we aren't paying any of Brian's salary as part of the deal. That would send this board further into meltdown (with good reason).

[ReLoad]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

If Brian wanted to leave, then there is stuff all the club could have done about it, his massive back ended contract has also gone. (and as we don't have his detailed medical conditioning report, so is his stuffed body perhaps?)

I do not blame the club for losing him, but im not happy with the club for not getting much for him.

It will make zero difference to our wins/losses next year as we were going to fall further behind anyway, so those promising more doom, I don't really subscribe to that.

On the positive side , at least we don't have to put up with his brain fades anymore.
Schoenclangers will be the happiest hawthorn player ever.

Hawthorn to win the flag by a country mile, the missing link has now been fulfilled.

[jeemak]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

One way to look at the trade is:

Pick 21 and a downgrade of our second round pick to Dogs in exchange for Lake.
Pask has made it clear that we were going to lose Lake in a year - why would we keep Lake for a year when he doesn't want to stay, paying Lake a massive salary, only to recieve almost no compensation.

This way we get another first round pick. You want all players to be fully invested - not just taking the money until they move on to greener pastures.

That's a fair enough point.

If the recruiting team believes specific and desired talent isn't likely to be available at pick 27, getting our hands on pick 21 could prove invaluable.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Brian Lake to Hawthorn

Frees up a fair chunk of the salary cap this year and next

What was Brian on?