Brian Lake has received a four-week suspension from the AFL Tribunal for choking Drew Petrie during last Friday night’s clash between Hawthorn and North Melbourne.
The tribunal dismissed Lake’s claims that he had attempted to grab Petrie’s jumper after a third quarter contest on the left forward flank.
The Norm Smith Medallist will miss a key stretch for the second placed Hawks, just percentage points above Port Adelaide and Fremantle, including vital clashes against the Crows and Swans in the coming weeks.
“It’s been a tough couple of days for myself and my family, it’s just great to come here and get my point across on what happened,” Lake said after emerging from the hearing.
“I respect the jury’s decision on the four weeks and I’ve just got to look forward to a tough four-week period of training and getting my body right.
“Leading into finals I’ve got three weeks (after the ban ends) to get my match fitness and look for a big September.”
Lake will be eligible to return for Round 21’s Grand Final rematch against Fremantle in Perth, but will be sorely missed as the Hawks look to quell the tall forward lines of Adelaide and Sydney in the coming fortnight.
Petrie will play for the Kangaroos against St Kilda this weekend despite a guilty plea for unreasonable contact to Lake’s face. The veteran forward risked 93 carry over points, however the jury decided instead to offer just a reprimand.
“He was in a dominant, aggressive position on my head. I knew I had to push out of that position to prevent any damage to myself,” Petrie told the tribunal.
“I needed to push out of that position for my own safety. If I let him lie on my head and face like that… it’s a position you don’t want to be in for too long.”
Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
