Garry Lyon Says New Interchange Substitution Rule May Have Led To Brian Lake's VFL Stint Post by: Ronny Lerner 4 May, 2011 - 2:08 PM

(Photo: The Slattery Media Group)

Triple M Footy expert and former Melbourne champion Garry Lyon thinks the new interchange rules that were brought in by the AFL this year might have forced the Bulldogs to send star defender Brian Lake to the VFL this week.

The Bulldogs announced on Wednesday that the two-time All-Australian full-back - who underwent surgery to his knee, hip and shoulder over the pre-season - would head back to Williamstown this weekend to find some touch after coach Rodney Eade brought Lake’s fitness and form into question following the side’s 48-point loss to Collingwood on Sunday.

And while the Dogs may have been able to get away with playing Lake in the senior side under the old system which allowed all four bench players to be interchanged throughout the match, Lyon said it would be almost impossible to do so with only three of the four afforded that luxury this season.

“With three on the bench and a substitute, you can’t sort of muck around with that anymore so I’d imagine that’s got something to do with the new substitution rule,” Lyon told Triple M on Wednesday.

Lyon said Lake would benefit from the stint in the VFL and disagreed that the Bulldogs mismanaged him by playing him in their past three matches.

“They don’t risk players the quality of Brian Lake but he has had some interrupted preparations over the past couple of years,” Lyon told Triple M.

“Maybe they were just a little bit surprised that he hasn’t come up as quickly as they would have liked.”

“He’s such a valuable player they’ve just (got to) put him away for a while and make sure he’s right in the business end of the year.”

“It probably takes some pressure off him I would imagine and give him some time to get his body right without the pressure of coming up every week so it’s not such a bad move.”

The Dogs’ crucial assignment against Sydney in Canberra on Saturday will be made even tougher now with Shaun Higgins and Barry Hall already set to sit the clash out.

But with key personnel missing, it gives Rodney Eade a chance to develop depth within the team, according to Lyon.

“This year more than ever you’re only as good as your 30th and 31st and 32nd player,” Lyon said.

“The Dogs have got to develop some depth and this will be a good test of that.”

Do you agree that the new substitution rule cost Lake his spot in the Bulldogs’ line-up this week?

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