Tweet
MEETINGS this week between Brian Lake and the Western Bulldogs' new coach have led the All-Australian defender - disillusioned through a miserable year of injury and seemingly open to continuing his career elsewhere - to reaffirm his commitment to the Dogs.
Lake had been evasive about his playing future as recently as last week when he described how he used anti-inflammatory suppositories simply to get through training in a rehabilitation program that backfired before the Dogs ended his season in July.
In the aftermath of Rodney Eade's sacking, Lake indicated the club's new coach would have a strong influence on his feelings about remaining at Whitten Oval, and when Brendan McCartney was announced as Eade's successor this week he said it was a priority to ascertain Lake's intentions.
The Saturday Age understands that McCartney and Lake met twice this week, most recently on Thursday, and that the discussions reassured the club - which has insisted all season that trading Lake two years into a lucrative four-year deal would not be entertained - that the player is committed to rebounding at Whitten Oval.
Bulldogs football operations boss James Fantasia yesterday confirmed the coach and defender had met, but would not elaborate.
Lake has also informed his management about of discussions with McCartney, who has indicated publicly he would consider using Lake as a forward next season, and relayed that they were positive.
Despite being contracted to the Dogs on a handsome contract until the end of 2013, the 29-year-old dual All-Australian became increasingly frustrated in his 10th season when he managed just five senior games.
Lake was the competition's premier defender in 2009 and 2010, but as well as being injured this season - he battled various leg, hip, shoulder and groin problems after several operations - he had his mental toughness questioned publicly by a member of the Bulldogs' coaching panel, Brett Montgomery, this year.
Lake's relationship with Eade was also strained at times, and when the player would not commit unequivocally to the Dogs in a Channel Nine interview last week, the sense he was seriously contemplating a request to be traded was fuelled.
''It's hard. You've got a new coach coming into the club in the coming weeks,'' Lake said before McCartney was confirmed as Eade's replacement.
''I've got to know what he thinks of myself, if he sees me in the picture long term.
''You can't guarantee anything in football. If the coach comes in and says, 'We think it's probably better if you move on', so be it.
''I probably don't see that happening, but you just don't know.''
When the Dogs decided, at the end of July, that Lake should not try to play again at any level this season, the club's president, David Smorgon, and football manager, Fantasia, were emphatic that they wanted to retain the defender.
Given the Bulldogs have lost two stars in two seasons - Callan Ward to Greater Western Sydney and Jarrod Harbrow to Gold Coast - the prospect of their best defender and one of their highest-paid players stating a preference to start afresh elsewhere would have been disastrous.
McCartney will continue meeting players next week.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz1YoPIn4wJ
Lake had been evasive about his playing future as recently as last week when he described how he used anti-inflammatory suppositories simply to get through training in a rehabilitation program that backfired before the Dogs ended his season in July.
In the aftermath of Rodney Eade's sacking, Lake indicated the club's new coach would have a strong influence on his feelings about remaining at Whitten Oval, and when Brendan McCartney was announced as Eade's successor this week he said it was a priority to ascertain Lake's intentions.
The Saturday Age understands that McCartney and Lake met twice this week, most recently on Thursday, and that the discussions reassured the club - which has insisted all season that trading Lake two years into a lucrative four-year deal would not be entertained - that the player is committed to rebounding at Whitten Oval.
Bulldogs football operations boss James Fantasia yesterday confirmed the coach and defender had met, but would not elaborate.
Lake has also informed his management about of discussions with McCartney, who has indicated publicly he would consider using Lake as a forward next season, and relayed that they were positive.
Despite being contracted to the Dogs on a handsome contract until the end of 2013, the 29-year-old dual All-Australian became increasingly frustrated in his 10th season when he managed just five senior games.
Lake was the competition's premier defender in 2009 and 2010, but as well as being injured this season - he battled various leg, hip, shoulder and groin problems after several operations - he had his mental toughness questioned publicly by a member of the Bulldogs' coaching panel, Brett Montgomery, this year.
Lake's relationship with Eade was also strained at times, and when the player would not commit unequivocally to the Dogs in a Channel Nine interview last week, the sense he was seriously contemplating a request to be traded was fuelled.
''It's hard. You've got a new coach coming into the club in the coming weeks,'' Lake said before McCartney was confirmed as Eade's replacement.
''I've got to know what he thinks of myself, if he sees me in the picture long term.
''You can't guarantee anything in football. If the coach comes in and says, 'We think it's probably better if you move on', so be it.
''I probably don't see that happening, but you just don't know.''
When the Dogs decided, at the end of July, that Lake should not try to play again at any level this season, the club's president, David Smorgon, and football manager, Fantasia, were emphatic that they wanted to retain the defender.
Given the Bulldogs have lost two stars in two seasons - Callan Ward to Greater Western Sydney and Jarrod Harbrow to Gold Coast - the prospect of their best defender and one of their highest-paid players stating a preference to start afresh elsewhere would have been disastrous.
McCartney will continue meeting players next week.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz1YoPIn4wJ
well done to Brian for staying now let's get him right for his own good not just ours.
Comment