When Hawthorn swooped on Brian Lake in last October’s AFL trade period, it was to stop goals, not kick them.
But the two-time All-Australian defender’s major, early in the second half of Friday night’s MCG qualifying final against Sydney, proved a game-breaking moment.
The scores had been level after a tight, tense first half and the two sides had managed just a goal each in the second quarter.
The Hawks edged in front with a behind early in the third term.
But with Hawthorn missing Lance Franklin to suspension and Cyril Rioli a late withdrawal with an ankle injury, it was hard to predict from where the attacking spark the Hawks needed would come.
Surprisingly, it was former Western Bulldog Lake who started their run.
After following opponent Kurt Tippett from the other end of the ground, Lake found a hole in a crowded Sydney defence to mark a Brendan Whitecross kick on his chest 45m out.
He then calmly converted just his second goal in Hawthorn colours.
It started a run of four Hawthorn majors in 10 minutes which, given the sides had managed just four apiece in the first half, amounted to an avalanche.
The Swans never recovered.
That ensured Lake ended the night a happy man, after he had started it in scratchy style.
Swans prize recruit Tippett kicked two goals on him in the first 20 minutes of the match to help Sydney to a nine-point lead.
Tippett had been a huge thorn in Hawthorn’s side when playing for Adelaide in last year’s finals, kicking four majors in a preliminary final as the Crows went within a kick of a huge upset.
But on Friday night, Sydney’s early advantage was reeled in by quarter-time, Tippett became a non-factor and didn’t add another goal for the game and Lake grew in influence.
The Hawks finished with 11 goal-kickers and are through to a home preliminary final in a fortnight.
That’s not a first for Lake, who played in three consecutive losing preliminary finals with the Bulldogs from 2008-10.
But none of those was after winning qualifying finals and earning a fortnight’s rest and home ground advantage, as the Hawks have done this time.
It puts him a step closer to achieving his stated aim when leaving the Bulldogs.
“It was tough (to leave), no doubt, but these things happen in football. It’s a business and I’m here to win a premiership,” he said at the time.
