After playing just five games last season due to an assortment of injuries, the 30-year-old moved as freely as ever, gathering 20 disposals and nine marks while keeping Cloke to 13 touches and two goals, almost all of which came after half-time.
Click on the media player above to watch highlights of Brian Lake's performance against Collingwood.
Lake was playing his second game back since serving a one-match suspension for a frustrated strike on St Kilda youngster Tom Simpkin in round three.
But this time Lake did all the frustrating.
The two-time All-Australian reduced Cloke - arguably the best power forward in the game, and certainly the best contested mark - to just one disposal (a kick) and one mark in the first half, while having 13 touches and six marks himself.
The Magpie man-mountain gradually worked his way into the game in the second half and kicked two crucial goals, but he was assisted by his side's increased midfield ascendancy, which provided him with more opportunities.
Lake got one of those goals back by kicking one himself midway through the final term to get the Bulldogs back within seven points. And it was a beauty: from 50 metres near the boundary line and with a deftly weighted kick.
No one was more pleased with Lake's form than Dogs coach Brendan McCartney.
"I think he enjoyed playing on a fantastic player and it brought the best out of him," he said.
McCartney was proud of the work ethic and teamwork of his backline, which worked together better than at any other stage this season.
"They actually supported each other and didn’t just fight their own battles," he said. "They joined in and ganged-up on the opposition, which is what you want your backline to do."
Another star was the developing Easton Wood, 22, who played easily his best game for the club. The 34-gamer displayed great courage and dash, and also contributed to the highlights reel, climbing to take a superb pack mark and also drifting forward, like Lake, to bomb a long goal.
Unfortunately, Wood will now have a stint on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in the third term.
"He hasn’t had a great couple of weeks and he got some good coaching during the week," McCartney said.
"The assistants did a great job with our players in preparing them for tonight and he responded to some good coaching. Yeah, it was a nice moment for him."
Lake was playing his second game back since serving a one-match suspension for a frustrated strike on St Kilda youngster Tom Simpkin in round three.
But this time Lake did all the frustrating.
The two-time All-Australian reduced Cloke - arguably the best power forward in the game, and certainly the best contested mark - to just one disposal (a kick) and one mark in the first half, while having 13 touches and six marks himself.
The Magpie man-mountain gradually worked his way into the game in the second half and kicked two crucial goals, but he was assisted by his side's increased midfield ascendancy, which provided him with more opportunities.
Lake got one of those goals back by kicking one himself midway through the final term to get the Bulldogs back within seven points. And it was a beauty: from 50 metres near the boundary line and with a deftly weighted kick.
No one was more pleased with Lake's form than Dogs coach Brendan McCartney.
"I think he enjoyed playing on a fantastic player and it brought the best out of him," he said.
McCartney was proud of the work ethic and teamwork of his backline, which worked together better than at any other stage this season.
"They actually supported each other and didn’t just fight their own battles," he said. "They joined in and ganged-up on the opposition, which is what you want your backline to do."
Another star was the developing Easton Wood, 22, who played easily his best game for the club. The 34-gamer displayed great courage and dash, and also contributed to the highlights reel, climbing to take a superb pack mark and also drifting forward, like Lake, to bomb a long goal.
Unfortunately, Wood will now have a stint on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in the third term.
"He hasn’t had a great couple of weeks and he got some good coaching during the week," McCartney said.
"The assistants did a great job with our players in preparing them for tonight and he responded to some good coaching. Yeah, it was a nice moment for him."
