Be Patient with Lever

[Sigil 382]

For posterity...

When we get our back line right and he is a beast and intercept god....

I'm quoting a lot of you buggers

[A F 9,226]

On 4/18/2018 at 2:55 PM, Lucifer's Hero said:

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.

I reckon they'd welcome another AA level player into their fold with open arms. Hibberd is a half backer, Jetta is a lock down small defender. They're hardly in the mould of generals, but a KPB intercept defender is. 

[D4Life 399]

At the moment our backline is a shambles, always under pressure and no release points! Assuming we start to come together and show a little structure & confidence, Lever will start to standout.

Don’t bury the kid, give him some time!

[deeko 937]

He was better on the weekend but still not anything better than average. He put his body on the line a few times and got crunched. I’ll always support someone who does that for our club. Just hoping his skill gets back up to what made him so desirable at trade week.

During his draft year, wasn’t there talk of him playing as a midfielder? I’m pretty sure there was a rage with tall mids (Cripps, Fyfe etc) and I thought we were going to grab him as P3 (after Brayshaw if Trac went to the Saints) but we would pick him as a mid.

If so, just may be another string to his bow if Weed comes on and TMac goes back with his bro. 

Does anyone else recall this? Or did I read this here and taking it as fact.....

[Rusty Nails 3,358]

The good news is after 4 rounds Lever is leading the club in intercepts averaging 7.5 per game.

The top 5 are (average per game)...

1. Lever 7.5

2. Frost 7.0

3. Hibberd 6.25

4. Hunt 6.0

5. Lewis 5.75

[Demonland 14,090]

 

[KingDingAling 2,506]

On 4/20/2018 at 9:59 AM, deeko said:

He was better on the weekend but still not anything better than average. He put his body on the line a few times and got crunched. I’ll always support someone who does that for our club. Just hoping his skill gets back up to what made him so desirable at trade week.

During his draft year, wasn’t there talk of him playing as a midfielder? I’m pretty sure there was a rage with tall mids (Cripps, Fyfe etc) and I thought we were going to grab him as P3 (after Brayshaw if Trac went to the Saints) but we would pick him as a mid.

If so, just may be another string to his bow if Weed comes on and TMac goes back with his bro. 

Does anyone else recall this? Or did I read this here and taking it as fact.....

I recall there been talk of Lever being capable of playing as a mid. I don't know where I heard that from, so its possible I heard it in relation to MFC considering selecting him with the potential of Lever playing as a mid. You could be right. He could play mid. He is well balanced and usually makes good decisions.

[dees189227 2,505]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/jake-lever-says-he-had-to-delete-twitter-to-avoid-negativity-after-trade-to-melbourne/news-story/a63e26ab90138a2c2724aad008b4e8e7

Well I could only imagine what he would be copping. 

[ENYAW 321]

Negativity is a way of life at Demonland,so lets put more crap on the club. 

[Members' Wing 1,105]

On 4/11/2018 at 3:55 PM, Lucifer's Hero said:

Yes, Worsfold is a clever coach/tactitian.  At Ess he just has dumb players who get lazy and who can't or won't carry out instructions!

Again - ???. Been common knowledge throughout AFL circles for over 15 years that he's just about tactically inept. 

[Cards13 4,721]

Lever looking pretty comfortable by rnd 6... looking fwd to see how he goes over this next part of the season before the bye against some good teams.

[don't make me angry 986]

7 hours ago, Members' Wing said:

Again - ???. Been common knowledge throughout AFL circles for over 15 years that he's just about tactically inept. 

He is yesterday's hero he is out of touch with his players, there's a reason why he retired at West Coast,  he is an emergency coach saved Adelaide in their time of need and he went to Essendon when they need a emergency coach, the bombers played above themselves last year. 

[Stretch Johnson 1,891]

5 hours ago, Cards13 said:

Lever looking pretty comfortable by rnd 6... looking fwd to see how he goes over this next part of the season before the bye against some good teams.

I feel like there is a BOG any week now.

Looking better each week.

[Engorged Onion 1,744]

2 hours ago, Stretch Johnson said:

I feel like there is a BOG any week now.

Looking better each week.

Yes he is... AND he still doesnt mind the odd 2-3 flying punches that fail to connect with the ball at all (even when it's a 2 on 1 in our favour)... I don't know if this happened at Adelaide (presumably) but it looks god awful when that happens...

[leave it to deever 1,632]

On 4/17/2018 at 10:22 AM, 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. 

You have been proved correct.

[hemingway 4,598]

34 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

You have been proved correct.

Thanks Deever, but you didn't need to be Einstein, let alone Hemingway.  The kid has runs on the board. Bit like doubting a Hibberd. We also forget at times when we comment about individual players that it is a team game and that the fortunes of the team have direct influence on the individual player. 

[Salems Lot 957]

4 hours ago, Stretch Johnson said:

I feel like there is a BOG any week now.

Looking better each week.

We do have Adelaide coming up?

[Watts the matter 621]

10 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

You have been proved correct.

You must have pretty low expectations if you actually believe this.

He has shown steady improvement and is playing his role solidly, however is not paying anywhere near the pay cheque he is earning. I'm sure this will come up in Tom McDonald's contract negotiations. A poor precedent has been set.

Interested to see how he goes this weekend if he matches up on Curnow. Curnow exposed him last year.

[Petraccattack 18,104]

Interesting stat from Footywire,  Jake Lever second in the AFL for winning contested one on ones in defense.   Not something he is renowned for but hes elite in 2018 in this area.

He isnt in the top 10 for intercept marks or possessions though , which is his bread and butter.

 

Contested Defence Loss Percentage (minimum 5 games played, 1.50 contested one-on-ones per game)
1. Cale Hooker - 0.00%
2. Jake Lever - 11.11%
3. Jake Kelly - 11.76%
4. Heath Shaw - 14.29%
5. Aidan Corr - 14.71%
6. Nathan Brown - 15.38%
7. James Frawley - 15.79%
8. Alex Rance - 16.00%
9. Michael Hibberd - 16.67%
10. Jeremy Finlayson - 16.67%

[Stretch Johnson 1,891]

On 5/15/2018 at 8:55 AM, Stretch Johnson said:

I feel like there is a BOG any week now.

Looking better each week.

Nostraf#ckingdamus