Pathetic. And I'm not talking about Lever...

Its always the same here.

Rag on a player for whatever reason, bemoan drafting him, his continual selection, his limitations.. etc

Nek minnit... wow guys, that guy is good!

I remember eveyone here used to say Tmac was no good. How'd that work out?

Last year Omac was the continual whipping boy.

Levers turn now is it?

Why not just spare yourselves and everyone else the premature rants, and wait.

Was he even decent at Adelaide? If he relies on playing as a loose man and has no defensive capabilities then what is the point of having him in the team? I feel like he was all just media hype as he lacks pace (oscar is quicker) and struggles below his knees, let alone poor disposal. Reminds me of Chris Dawes.

Rawlings going to Casey could have something to do with our backline underperforming...

Should've re-drafted Tom Gilles, he'd do a better job than Lever, and we'd still have the farm.

Edited April 16, 20187 yr by TheoX

Has he lost weight for this season? Looks very skinny in a MFC jumper. Not sure if that is affecting his confidence too.

5 hours ago, Grimes Times said:

a game high 13 Intercept possessions

what we recruited him for. 

Just Sayin

That's all well and good. But 5 of his first seven kicks went to a Hawks player

Edited April 16, 20187 yr by binman

I normally can't stand anything Robbo says, but he made a good point on AFL360 before... "Jake lever is the second highest paid defender in the AFL (behind Alex Rance)... and he's not even in the top 15 of best defenders in the league".

I really hope he turns into a superstar, but right now it's looking like a really bad deal. 

21 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

I don't buy into the argument that's he's making Hunt/HIbberd/Jetta worse. The entire side's lack of structure and pressure up the ground is making the whole backline worse. It's not Lever.

His intercept/aerial work is getting better, and he clearly reads the play excellently. Those parts of his game are there and are improving.

But his skills are atrocious at the moment. He's fumbly, awful below his knees, and he's missing way too many kicks/handpasses - we cannot afford another poor user of the ball in our back half.

His confidence looks down, which will in part be because of the pressure of the trade and the pre-season expectations on him. That's not an excuse, just a reason. He can play a lot better than this and he's going to need to.

 

IMO the one and only defender who has been at all consistent this season, 4 games plus Ansett Cup (or whatever) in is the much maligned Oscar McDonald.

Is that due to Lever unbalancing the group?

Edited April 16, 20187 yr by monoccular

Felt sorry for lever yesterday. Every time he got the ball he'd have 3 blokes coming at him and he would look up and see only hawks to kick to.

Quite simply we did not work hard enough off the  ball. We'd switch and the hawkswould take off, meanwhile our mids would be having a cup of tea on the original wing.

The guy needs someone to kick to but had no options.

I can't help but think we got rid of Dunn who is faster, stronger, a better kick and far superior one on on for nothing. And got Lever for 2 first round draft picks and $800k a year.

Lever was dreadful on the weekend. He was not alone. It was the worst game i've seen for quite a few players, but Lever was close to WOG.

That said, he is so much better than that and I think it's a case of him feeling under pressure. He did so many strange mistakes from a player that's usually quite intelligent.

Biggest (unfair) problem for him is the price we paid for him. I wasn't happy about it at the time, and I'm definitely not happy about it now, we should've played hard ball on him and it's about time the club actually grew a bloody spine when negotiating trades.

2 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

I can't help but think we got rid of Dunn who is faster, stronger, a better kick and far superior one on on for nothing. And got Lever for 2 first round draft picks and $800k a year.

Lever might be struggling but this is a shocking post.

Dunn is, and was, a hack.

 

On 12/04/2018 at 1:34 PM, Ruffles said:

I think it's important to remember how young Lever is.

He spent his first few years in the AFL learning and developing in the 3rd tall / intercept defender role. We know how well he developed in this role.

Since joining Melbourne he's spent more time in a one on one / key defensive role, though we're only 3 rounds in. It takes time to learn and develop in new roles, not to mention adjust to new team mates and game plans.

I know in a few years time I'd like a defender to be capable in a number of roles and maybe this is what Goodwin is doing. Lever is an intelligent, talented player and future leader type and I'm stoked that he's now ours.

Remember Rance's first 4 - 6 years at Richmond? He was pretty much their #1 whipping boy. He has now developed into one of the top defenders in the AFL but this did not happen overnight. From memory it wasn't until he was around 24 that he really began hitting his straps. I'm not suggesting Lever will be Rance, just pointing out that it can take time for players to mature and develop.

We have a quality player here and when we look back in 10 years time we'll be glad we managed to trade him in.

I wa out Saturday night with Richmond supporter who said he wanted to get rid of Rance his first five years, run around like a headless chook. Then he finally clicked and became a gun!

He also mentioned how hopeless at least half their team was, couldn’t hit a barn door was the phrase he used, and as a team it clicked from round 18-19 last year, and now they all believe!

Lever is a young guy, give him some more time.

 

4 minutes ago, D4Life said:

I wa out Saturday night with Richmond supporter who said he wanted to get rid of Rance his first five years, run around like a headless chook. Then he finally clicked and became a gun!

He also mentioned how hopeless at least half their team was, couldn’t hit a barn door was the phrase he used, and as a team it clicked from round 18-19 last year, and now they all believe!

Lever is a young guy, give him some more time.

 

Similar things were said about Toumpas

4 minutes ago, old dee said:

Similar things were said about Toumpas

Toumpas, was supposedly fast, and highly skilled. My mother was way quicker, could really get up some speed going downhill.

At least Lever has shown he can intercept & mark. Disposal has been poor, but was okay last year. Give him some time.

7 minutes ago, D4Life said:

Toumpas, was supposedly fast, and highly skilled. My mother was way quicker, could really get up some speed going downhill.

At least Lever has shown he can intercept & mark. Disposal has been poor, but was okay last year. Give him some time.

There is no choice we sold the farm for him!

We seem to have bought him on the basis that when he arrived we could then use T Mac in the forward line, sadly that has fallen on its arse through no fault of his however would he be playing against the Tigers if T Mac was available?

 

Let's not single out Lever. 

His current form is on a par with most of his team mates.

Unlike a new recruit or a cast-off, we know Lever can play at the highest level. 

He was sensational in 2017.

Give him time. 

8 minutes ago, hemingway said:

Let's not single out Lever. 

His current form is on a par with most of his team mates.

Unlike a new recruit or a cast-off, we know Lever can play at the highest level. 

He was sensational in 2017.

Give him time. 

Yes Earnest ... failure is always relative and at MFC we have learnt to excel in it my friend.

I find myself enjoying the VFL more by the week... By the way have you ever read the Paris Wife a great book, mainly fiction about your namesake.

 

6 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

X footballers are seldom the best judges especially ones who have just left the game they struggle to get their minds around the fact they are no longer players and so take time to judge players and stop identifying  with them

Edited April 17, 20187 yr by old dee

15 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

I can't help but think we got rid of Dunn who is faster, stronger, a better kick and far superior one on on for nothing. And got Lever for 2 first round draft picks and $800k a year.

Lever is superior to Dunn. I wasn't a big fan of the Lever trade, but its done now. The positives are that Lever has previously played up to an AA level, has talent, is a great mover, a good kick and usually a good decision maker. On top of that, he has only recently turned 22. Still a kid and given time to fill out he could be the KP player we need.

35 minutes ago, old dee said:

X footballers are seldom the best judges especially ones who have just left the game they struggle to get their minds around the fact they are no longer players and so take time to judge players and stop identifying  with them

Alcoholic journalists on the other hand...

35 minutes ago, old dee said:

X footballers are seldom the best judges especially ones who have just left the game they struggle to get their minds around the fact they are no longer players and so take time to judge players and stop identifying  with them

But current players should know if a teammate can play.

Crows were furious he left. Does that sound like they think he is no good. 

He will be a good player for us once he settles and gets used to plan and fellow backs. 

53 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Yes Earnest ... failure is always relative and at MFC we have learnt to excel in it my friend.

I find myself enjoying the VFL more by the week... By the way have you ever read the Paris Wife a great book, mainly fiction about your namesake.

Yes, a good book but as you point out, historical fiction. Ernest loved all his wife's for a period of time. However, as a romantic with a fraught and split personality he was never fully satisfied, a feature of his being that permeated all things, not the least his own writings.  There will never be a one true account of his life. Perhaps a truth that applies to all.