Lake has accepted a four-game ban after grabbing the throat of North Melbourne’s Drew Petrie.
Hawthorn defender Brian Lake will miss his team’s next four matches after being suspended at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday.
The 2013 Norm Smith Medalist was charged by the match review panel after grabbing the throat of North Melbourne forward Drew Petrie during the third quarter of the Hawks’ loss to the Kangaroos.
The jury of David Neitz, Richard Loveridge and Wayne Schimmelbusch deemed his offence to be worth 410 points, inclusive of a 10 per cent loading for his bad record after receiving a three-match ban in the last three years.
“It’s been a tough couple of days for myself and my family,” Lake told reporters after the hearing.
“I respect the jury’s decision on the four weeks.
“Leading into the finals I’ve got three games to get my match fitness and look for a big September.”
Lake gave evidence that he was not making contract with Petrie’s throat, rather that he was attempting to grab hold of his opponent’s throat after Petrie had made contact with his face.
Watch the ‘chokehold’ here:
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