Brian Lake in no rush to get back for Round 1

[The Coon Dog]

Jon Ralph - Herald Sun - 4 February

http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2010/05/08/1225863/861336-brian-lake.jpg

DUAL All-Australian full-back Brian Lake says he is prepared to miss Round 1 if it will help him reach peak fitness for September.

The Western Bulldogs star concedes he will struggle to play in the season opener against Essendon on March 27 as he recovers from four off-season surgeries.

Lake had knee and hip surgery, then shoulder surgery, which also revealed a frayed bicep tendon.

Article in full... (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/brian-lake-in-no-rush-to-get-back-for-round-1/story-e6frf9jf-1225999866921)

[chef]

Yep, take your time Brian. We shouldn't need you until round 5 anyway.

[Mantis]

Too important to our long term goals to rush back.

With our draw being helpful in that in the first 3 rounds we play lower ranked teams and then have a bye in rd 4 we should be able to use the first month of the season to build up Brian's fitness.

[Mofra]

Round 2 presents a good opportunity for Williams - he will take either Brown and Mitch Clarke who is set to play plenty of minutes forward and only pinch hit in the ruck under the new sub rule. Both are quality, and it will be great to set him big tasks early on.
Lake can be eased into the season.

[aker39]

Mark Stevens tweeted today that he thinks Lake will certainly play Round 1.

[Cyberdoggie]

I wonder if Markovic will get a game as Lake's replacement?

[The Bulldogs Bite]

I wonder if Markovic will get a game as Lake's replacement?

Should get an opportunity during the NAB Cup. If he does OK, then perhaps he'll play to give Lake that extra week or two off.

[Swoop]

I can't see Markovic playing even if Lake isn't fit for round 1, both Morris & Williams would be used as talls ahead of him and we probably would prefer to play our mid and smaller sized defenders in order to expose them for run out of the backline.

[GVGjr]

Yep, take your time Brian. We shouldn't need you until round 5 anyway.

We don't have a lot of depth for tall defenders. So with Lake and Hargrave (not a KD) we wouldn't want more injuries. I mentioned a while back that round 3 was the likely return for Lake and I believe that is still the most likely.

[Bulldog4life]

Mark Stevens tweeted today that he thinks Lake will certainly play Round 1.

Good enough for me.

[chef]

We don't have a lot of depth for tall defenders. So with Lake and Hargrave (not a KD) we wouldn't want more injuries. I mentioned a while back that round 3 was the likely return for Lake and I believe that is still the most likely.

It will be interesting to see how Ayce goes in the back line and Jones is another option.

[LostDoggy]

Mark Stevens tweeted today that he thinks Lake will certainly play Round 1.

Possibly as the 'sub' for our first match?
But then again, who could we sub off for Lake...