THE WESTERN Bulldogs have re-signed full-back Brian Lake to a four-year deal, meaning the All-Australian defender will play out his career at the club.

The news, coming on the back of the signing of former Swan Barry Hall, should provide a real boon for a club seeking to end a 56-year premiership drought.

Much media speculation had centred on Lake as he and the club entered into protracted negotiations regarding his future.

But the new deal ended any doubt that the 27-year-old would seek a new home, with Lake now destined to remain at the club until at least 2013.

"It will take me to 31 [years old] and I'll spend the rest of my life at the Western Bulldogs and be a one-club player," Lake said from Whitten Oval on Wednesday morning.

"They gave me the opportunity in 2001 after taking me with pick 71. They took the punt.

"Over time I've repaid them and no doubt a four-year contract will see out my days here."

Lake said he hadn't considered leaving the club, and simply wanted to take his time to agree to the biggest contract of his career.

"It's one of many things coming up in my life, like having a baby and getting married," he said.

"We had to work out some of the finer details, and I obviously run a busy life at the moment, so I was just getting those things in order and then getting this done.

"There was no timeline; it just had to be signed by October 31. I just wanted to take my time with it and make sure it was alright."

Rodney Eade, who described his sometimes fiery relationship with Lake as "more love-love than love-hate", said Lake's signing was fantastic for the club both on and off the field.

"We think we've got a great opportunity over the next few years to win a premiership, and Brian is a key plank of that," he said.

He also denied the club had grown impatient with the amount of time it took Lake to sign.

"We spoke to Brian before the finals, and he said he wanted to leave it until after the football season," he said.

"We finished late in September and then there was a week of celebrations and commiserations, and he's had some other things going on.

"From our point of view, we weren't stressed about it, but by the same token, we wanted to get it done as soon as possible."

Eade said signing Lake – combined with the acquisition of former Sydney Swans' forward Barry Hall on Tuesday – gave the club powerful bookends.

"Brian was the key one; he's been a key player for us for three or four years," he said. "The fact Barry is here as well gives us strength at both ends."