Brian Lake reported for abusive language after Caroline Springs teammate is hit

Three-time AFL premiership defender Brian Lake was placed on report on Saturday just seconds after one of his Caroline Springs players was on the end of a high hit. See the vision.

Caroline Springs coach Brian Lake has been reported for verbal abuse during a fiery opening 10 minutes in a Western Region league game on Saturday as he came to the aid of one of his players who had copped a high hit.

Footage of the Division 1 clash against Point Cook shows Lake’s name being taken into the book by a field umpire with this masthead understanding the report was for abusive language.

The camera panned to seeing Lake’s name taken after his player, Billy Crofts, was hit high by Point Cook’s Josh Kuppen.

It’s understood Crofts’ suffered facial fractures as part of the incident.

The free kick which had been awarded to Caroline Springs for the high hit on Crofts was reversed after the umpire reported Lake.

The reversal ended up in a goal to Point Cook.

Speaking on WynFM after the game, Kuppen said he was unsure if he would face a suspension for the hit.

“Yeah, who knows,” he said when asked if he thought he would be in trouble.

“It was all heat of the moment, he was right there, I panicked and put my arm up.

“He went down. It was good to see him come back on. I apologised at the start of the second.

“Fair enough they still wanted to go after me, we’ll see what goes on.”

In the fourth quarter, Kuppen was the recipient of a 150m penalty after he was knocked over by Crofts after the ball went out of play.

Sam Maitland then knocked Kuppen over after a small melee broke out between players of both sides.

“I started to rattle a few cages with my chat and I love playing for the crowd,” Kuppen said of the incident.

“When they started cheering, I don’t think Caroline Springs boys appreciated it.

“I’d hate me too.”

Point Cook ran out winners 17.7 (109) to 11.7 (73) to take hold of second spot on the ladder.