HAWTHORN defender Brian Lake says free agency helped him move to the Hawks two years ago and avoid potentially being "held to ransom" as a senior player nearing the end of his career.

 

Lake was traded by the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2012 – one year before he became a free agent – in exchange for selections No.21 and No.43 in that year's NAB AFL Draft.

The 32-year-old, who has since become a dual premiership player and a Norm Smith medallist said free agency was creating opportunities for older players and helped make his trade possible.   

 

"That's what I thought it would come in for, [to help] those guys that hit the 30-year age bracket where you sort of get held ransom a little bit by the club you're at," Lake told NAB AFL Trade Radio.

 

"They know it's so hard to change clubs at that stage in your career – it's not like you're going to get a three or four-year deal.

 

"So they can name their price contract wise, say 'here you go' and you've got to sign it.

 

"It gives older guys a chance to keep playing [in the] AFL. Just because you hit 30 years old it doesn't mean you should be finished and retired."

 

Lake, who this week signed a contract extension for the 2015 season, has avoided post-season surgery for the second straight season.

 

Despite a mid-season calf injury, he said his body had responded well to a change of environment.

"The big change from playing at Etihad to playing at the MCG for most of your home games, I've found that's been a massive change and a key to my body responding so well," he said.

 

"I had some issues this year with the calf, and even in the finals I had a little incident in the last game of the year that I needed some treatment for.

 

"But apart from that, the body's feeling great … I haven't got that wear and tear in my body."