Be Patient with Lever

[Johnny Karate 534]

5 hours 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.

 

Agree. I’ve been disappointed so far but am still a be-Lever.

[binman 8,702]

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

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. 

Agree. 

I think the bolded bit is critical as he doesn't look like he has connected fully with his team mates. I had my binos trained on the defenders a fair bit after goals in the last q (as i like to do) and i have to say there was some pretty average body language (eg pointing and gesticulating) and not a little angst generally but also towards Lever.  All didn't look rosy, which i guess is to be expected when being smashed but still it wasn't a great look.

It made me wonder how well he had been accepted and how well the transition had been managed. I mean he appears pretty confident young man, prepared to share his opinion, lauded for his leadership who is paid probably twice say jetta and Hibberd and who has struggled thus far.

On field he looks a young man devoid of confidence and second guessing himself. To be honest it is the coaching staff's job to help him with that and they need to accept some of the responsibility for where he is at in terms of how he is travelling emotionally. Not all. But some. Which is query i have with Goody - how strong is his emotional intelligence?

A problem the coaching staff now face is that if it was say Frost they would put him back to the VFL to regain his confidence, as they did with Hunt. But dropping lever is problematical as it would point a huge mainstream and social media spotlight on him and might impact even more on his confidence. Imagine the social media jibes he would get playing at a wet and windy Casey fields. 

Edited April 17, 2018 by binman

[beelzebub 18,930]

2 hours 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. 

I dont think Lever's problem is altogether Lever. 

Square pegs in round holes struggle.

That said. .im simply underwhelmed.

[hemingway 4,598]

13 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

I dont think Lever's problem is altogether Lever. 

Square pegs in round holes struggle.

That said. .im simply underwhelmed.

Understand your feelings, but I am underwhelmed by the majority of players too numerous to mention, and completely underwhelmed by our coach and coaching staff. 

[hemingway 4,598]

22 minutes ago, binman said:

Agree. 

I think the bolded bit is critical as he doesn't look like he has connected fully with his team mates. I had my binos trained on the defenders a fair bit after goals in the last q (as i like to do) and i have to say there was some pretty average body language (eg pointing and gesticulating) and not a little angst generally but also towards Lever.  All didn't look rosy, which i guess is to be expected when being smashed but still it wasn't a great look.

It made me wonder how well he had been accepted and how well the transition had been managed. I mean he appears pretty confident young man, prepared to share his opinion, lauded for his leadership who is paid probably twice say jetta and Hibberd and who has struggled thus far.

On field he looks a young man devoid of confidence and second guessing himself. To be honest it is the coaching staff's job to help him with that and they need to accept some of the responsibility for where he is at in terms of how he is travelling emotionally. Not all. But some. Which is query i have with Goody - how strong is his emotional intelligence?

A problem the coaching staff now face is that if it was say Frost they would put him back to the VFL to regain his confidence, as they did with Hunt. But dropping lever is problematical as it would point a huge mainstream and social media spotlight on him and might impact even more on his confidence. Imagine the social media jibes he would get playing at a wet and windy Casey fields. 

You make a good point and also ask a good question in your 3rd para Binman.  

[iv'a worn smith 1,959]

3 minutes ago, hemingway said:

Understand your feelings, but I am underwhelmed by the majority of players too numerous to mention, and completely underwhelmed by our coach and coaching staff. 

Agreed.  It is a bit hard to shine, when you are dragged down to below par performances by a lot of your team mates.  I won't engage - at this stage - about the coaching.  But next Tuesday is going to be a huge night for the MFC and dare I used the cliche, but it will be season defining I think.

[poita 1,513]

Lever is making Lumumba look like a committed, competent footballer at the moment. His lack of composure and awareness, together with his atrocious disposal, surely warrant a stint at Casey. If I didn't know better, I'd wonder if he'd actually played the game before at a decent level.

Yes, our defence collectively has been woeful (with the glaring exception of Oscar McDonald), but Lever is the biggest culprit. As a loose man he has had zero impact and has offered zero support for his teammates; as a true defender he has been flogged by everyone from first gamers to D-grade hacks.

[beelzebub 18,930]

1 hour ago, hemingway said:

Understand your feelings, but I am underwhelmed by the majority of players too numerous to mention, and completely underwhelmed by our coach and coaching staff. 

?We set the bar high at being underwhelmed...eh ☹️

[Demonland 14,090]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-18/slow-starters-who-needs-to-pick-up-their-game

Melbourne invested significantly in key defender Jake Lever in last year's NAB AFL Trade Period and, so far, it is clear he is not living up to those expectations. The Demons gave up two first-round draft picks (one in last year's draft and one future pick) for Lever, signing him to a four-year deal worth up to $800,000 a season. Lever, 22, has been unable to settle into his new side, struggling to adapt to the Demons' aggressive high press and the way he has handled himself in one-on-one situations. Opposition teams have gone to school on Lever's aggressive defensive style, with the defender averaging just 7.5 intercept possessions per game. Lever's ball use has also been questionable, with the defender admitting recently that his kicking was not at the level required. Lever needs to get back to playing with the confidence he exuded in his final year in Adelaide – backing his judgment to come off his man and kill the contest in the air. The Demons also need to do a better job of maximising Lever's strengths and putting him in a position where his intercept ability can be used more effectively. - Ben Guthrie

[buck_nekkid 2,145]

i read that they won’t be dropping him.  Too cool for rules?

[Stormy Dee 180]

Diamond Jim Tilbrook mark II so far.

[Lucifer's Hero 13,180]

A good request from Jones to be patient with Lever http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-18/levers-start-with-dees-has-been-rocky

 

Interestingly he says:  "Judge him in another five, six or seven weeks when he starts to become the general down there..."

I wonder how our AA players, Hibberd and Jetta feel about Lever being the 'General' so quickly and if it is affecting their games? 

It will be a big responsibility being put on Lever's shoulders while he is learning a new role in a new team with a different game plan.   

Perhaps, they should just let the kid settle into the backline, develop cohesion with the other back men for the season.  He can watch how Lewis works, and plenty of time to ramp up the responsibility after Lewis moves out of the backline.

Edited April 18, 2018 by Lucifer's Hero

[old dee 12,311]

2 hours ago, Stormy Dee said:

Diamond Jim Tilbrook mark II so far.

The big difference is that DJ was a south Aussie, Lever is a Victorian drafted by the Crows

[Demonland 14,090]

 

[biggestred 3,108]

No one ever mentions we got lever and a 2nd round pick.

Effectively it was lever for a pick and a downgrade. 

2x first roundpicks is ridiculous. 1 and a downgrade is fine ffs

[TheoX 967]

The second round pick was pick 37. We gave them (likely) two top 10 picks. Don't sugar coat it, we got absolutely screwed over in that trade.

[deanox 3,039]

1 hour ago, TheoX said:

The second round pick was pick 37. We gave them (likely) two top 10 picks. Don't sugar coat it, we got absolutely screwed over in that trade.

I understand we gave them the points equivalent of one first round pick, which was considered a good deal in AFL circles. 

[deelete my account 1,194]

On 4/17/2018 at 5:43 AM, binman said:

A problem the coaching staff now face is that if it was say Frost they would put him back to the VFL to regain his confidence, as they did with Hunt. But dropping lever is problematical as it would point a huge mainstream and social media spotlight on him and might impact even more on his confidence. Imagine the social media jibes he would get playing at a wet and windy Casey fields. 

Cant we give Keilty a go ahead of Frost? Frost from memory was recalled and dropped again soon after late last year. Playing dumb and not having this zone d down pat just seems like a reoccuring issue for him and he cant possibly be in our long term future plan. 

Edited April 18, 2018 by Doodle Dee

[Watts the matter 621]

On 4/17/2018 at 8:36 AM, Redleg said:

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. 

Yet weren't willing to offer him half of what we did.

He was a good component of their team, but wouldn't have been in there top 10 players.

He is not a terrible player (even though he has played like one for us), but he definitely isn't worth what we gave up.

[beelzebub 18,930]

8 minutes ago, Watts the matter said:

Yet weren't willing to offer him half of what we did.

He was a good component of their team, but wouldn't have been in there top 10 players.

He is not a terrible player (even though he has played like one for us), but he definitely isn't worth what we gave up.

Suspect you may be right. I thought he was better. He is s a bloody good player but possibly not what we're lead to believe. How MFC 

[Redleg 17,996]

11 hours ago, Watts the matter said:

He is not a terrible player (even though he has played like one for us), but he definitely isn't worth what we gave up.

Yet!

[dimmy 446]

Actually I queried why we got Lever. Having said that he is here now and he one of our own.

Please do not turn him into another whipping boy like JW, Tom Mac, OMac and Gus (based on Newscorp Gossip)

[pineapple dee 1,897]

Was this guy originally from Romsey ????  We know only too well what you can get from Romsey if you're unlucky. I hope the taint of Romsey is not affecting this guy too much.

[binman 8,702]

Can we draft Jake Kelly. Apparently a terrific intercept player.

Perhaps we meant to and they got the names mixed up. Easy mistake to make. Kelly. Lever. Almost the same

[titan_uranus 6,901]

Why would anyone ever come to Melbourne?

Unless you are in Brownlow-medal winning form, within a month the fans will turn their back on you, call you incapable of playing football, and decry the trade as one of the worst of all time.

Of course, then the same people will complain that we don't ever land big fish in trade periods.