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Gregor Mactaggart Sportal
Brian Lake's annus horriblis has reached a new chapter.
The 2010 All-Australian fullback won't play for the Western Bulldogs against St Kilda on Friday night with what coach Rodney Eade described as a sore groin.
"It looks like it will only be a week I think, that's the medical feedback on that," Eade said.
"He's not playing at all on the weekend, he won't play at Williamstown."
It is a further blow to the 29-year-old, who has struggled for form and fitness in season 2011.
Hip, shoulder and knee operations over the pre-season meant he missed the first two rounds and was underdone upon his return in Round 3 against Gold Coast.
In five games, Lake has gathered just the 58 disposals, a modest return for a man renowned as the AFL's most attacking fullback.
While he kicked three goals in a late forward cameo against Geelong, Lake's belief in his body has been shaken.
"Brian's struggling for confidence in his body, not that it's the same operation as a knee reconstruction, but it's like a player coming back from that," Eade said.
"Brian's lacking confidence in his movements and what he can do, it's going to take time for him to get confidence in what he can do."
"It's a matter of Brian working through it."
Team-mate Dale Morris has backed Lake, who didn't train on Thursday, to still make an important contribution to the Dogs cause this season.
"He's got all the support from the players that he'll come good," Morris said.
"Brian's one those proud guys, he's been doing everything he can. During the off-season he had three operations and I think people underestimate how big those operations were."
The news is slightly better surrounding injured forward Barry Hall, who trained strongly, but Eade explained the earliest possible return for Hall will be when the Bulldogs host Adelaide at Etihad Stadium in Round 13.
"Barry's got to get continuity of training, he's a victim of a player that does want to play, but at his age he needs that continuity of training," Eade said.
The Bulldogs will unveil another debutant in Luke Dahlhaus, a teenager from the Geelong Falcons.
He comes in with ruckman Ben Hudson, Ed Barlow and first-year player Tom Liberatore, while Jayden Schofield is also in the selection mix.
Eade was also quizzed on his thoughts about the Saints clash being tagged as an elimination final in July.
"Even if we win, we needs to go our way, it's more about the way we go about it," Eade said.
Brian Lake's annus horriblis has reached a new chapter.
The 2010 All-Australian fullback won't play for the Western Bulldogs against St Kilda on Friday night with what coach Rodney Eade described as a sore groin.
"It looks like it will only be a week I think, that's the medical feedback on that," Eade said.
"He's not playing at all on the weekend, he won't play at Williamstown."
It is a further blow to the 29-year-old, who has struggled for form and fitness in season 2011.
Hip, shoulder and knee operations over the pre-season meant he missed the first two rounds and was underdone upon his return in Round 3 against Gold Coast.
In five games, Lake has gathered just the 58 disposals, a modest return for a man renowned as the AFL's most attacking fullback.
While he kicked three goals in a late forward cameo against Geelong, Lake's belief in his body has been shaken.
"Brian's struggling for confidence in his body, not that it's the same operation as a knee reconstruction, but it's like a player coming back from that," Eade said.
"Brian's lacking confidence in his movements and what he can do, it's going to take time for him to get confidence in what he can do."
"It's a matter of Brian working through it."
Team-mate Dale Morris has backed Lake, who didn't train on Thursday, to still make an important contribution to the Dogs cause this season.
"He's got all the support from the players that he'll come good," Morris said.
"Brian's one those proud guys, he's been doing everything he can. During the off-season he had three operations and I think people underestimate how big those operations were."
The news is slightly better surrounding injured forward Barry Hall, who trained strongly, but Eade explained the earliest possible return for Hall will be when the Bulldogs host Adelaide at Etihad Stadium in Round 13.
"Barry's got to get continuity of training, he's a victim of a player that does want to play, but at his age he needs that continuity of training," Eade said.
The Bulldogs will unveil another debutant in Luke Dahlhaus, a teenager from the Geelong Falcons.
He comes in with ruckman Ben Hudson, Ed Barlow and first-year player Tom Liberatore, while Jayden Schofield is also in the selection mix.
Eade was also quizzed on his thoughts about the Saints clash being tagged as an elimination final in July.
"Even if we win, we needs to go our way, it's more about the way we go about it," Eade said.
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