Former Hawthorn great Brian Lake fumes after being slapped with lifetime ban from local football
Hawthorn premiership great Brian Lake has been left fuming after a suspension caused him to be deregistered from football.
Lake was handed a two-week suspension for striking while playing for Caroline Springs in the Western Region Football League which pushed him over the AFL Victoria threshold.
The current threshold according to the National Player & Official Deregistration Policy is set at 16 games, but Lake has been suspended for a total of 21 matches dating back to 2000.
Despite the 16 game threshold, AFL players are given a 25 percent discount, which is why Lake was able to play on past 16 weeks.
However, speaking to Fox Sports, the former Norm Smith Medallist said he would appeal the decision and expressed his anger.
Lake was a member of the Hawks' premiership teams from 2013 to 2015 Getty
"They want ex-AFL players to come back and play in the local leagues and serve this up," he said.
"Yes, I got reported (on Saturday) and probably deserve two weeks. But something needs to be done to this ruling, even if it’s all AFL suspensions are scrapped and you start fresh when you go back to local footy.
"I understand it’s to stop thugs in local footy but AFL suspensions should not be counted. Things you get suspended for at the top level wouldn’t even be looked at in local footy.
Lake posted a screenshot of the letter he received on his personal Instagram account which showed the process he would have to go through if he were to appeal the ban.
Lake is far from the only ex-AFL star to be playing in the local leagues in Victorian with the AFL's all-time games record holder Brent Harvey and former Essendon and St Kilda great Brendon Goddard both playing locally.
