Gotta say I only caught yesterday’s game in 2nd quarter - when Hogan put us in front. Lever off by then  

Watched next two and a half quarters on iphone in Ho Chi Minh coffee shop. 

Didn’t notice Lever’s absence. Not until I saw it here after game. No mention I heard in commentary. 

Did see Nev do work of two and a half men. 

37 minutes ago, Webber said:

9 months, knife to game play, no shorter exceptions. 

That long !! That's a while . You're up on these things so don't doubt you for a second. It's the nature and type of tear/etc ?? I had hoped these things were a little quicker these days.

That's a blow ..for all.

Again.. good luck Jake.

14 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Is it nuts to send Cam Pedersen into a defensive role? He’s a quiet achiever and keeps a cool head out there. Hes 31 and only contracted till the end of the year and because of this, I reckon he’d be up for playing out of his skin and earning a place in this particularly special Demons outfit. 

For some unknown reason, he's been a disaster as a defender. Seems odd but it's happened several times

I'm thinking perhaps Oscar McDonalds form could still translate to some aerial dominance like Lever and Tom Mc of yesteryear, his disposal was noticeably very attacking yesterday too. Do we have a more ready made lock down defender to come in instead of a like for like intercepter like Lever?  This may be robbing Peter to pay Paul as Omac has been so good as fullback, but perhaps Frost/Keilty could be given a go as 1 on 1 lockdown fullback, instead of trying to find a Lever replacement ? It's going to take some weeks for any player brought in as a Lever replacement, to find their form and judgement of when to attack the contest.

11 minutes ago, dieter said:

I truly feel sorry for Lever.

However, for the doomsayers, remember we won a lot of games last year without Gawn, Jones, Hogan, Viney and Watts who was really good in the first half of the year. Also, we won them without Lever.

Whaaaaaat? I would use 2017 as an example to support exactly the opposite argument.

In 2017 we were struck with injuries, as you say. We agree here.

Where we disagree is that you suggest we won plenty of games despite injuries.

I would point to the fact that we missed out on finals because of injuries...

I'll be there next year, watching Jakey take his 10th intercept mark, with all my 2018 premiership gear on and having (another) celebratory ale

All the best, young man

Good luck in ur recovery Lever. 

Its time for someone else to step up and fill the void. 

We now play as a team more than I can ever remember so I am confident with who ever comes in will do well. 

One player doesn’t make our team anymore. 

I agree. However, Gawn went down early in the year, then Spencer. We still won games without them, also without Hogan, Jones and Viney...

Anyone who reckons it doesn’t hurt the team is kidding themselves. Lever is a gun and had developed in to an essential part of the side. His replacement, whoever it turns out to be, is indisputably a significant downgrade.

I just feel terrible for him though. After a rough start he’d just reached full swing. He’ll be struggling, no doubt. Hopefully the recovery is as smooth as it can be.

Golden opportunity for someone else to step up now.

Just goes to show how injuries can ruin a season. Not there yet but pray we don’t lose one or two more important players for the long term this season. 

Absolutely tragic. 2 recos at 22 that’s a hard road back.

We deserve compensation from the AFL for this injury considering how much work and how much we spent to get Lever to the club.

Mahoney should be calling AFL House on Monday and demanding a top 10 pick.

6 minutes ago, layzie said:

Absolutely tragic. 2 recos at 22 that’s a hard road back.

Gawn has had two ACL’s in 2009 and 2012. Also had another serious knee injury. He got over all three of them.

No Premiership hangover for Lever next season. 

Send him off to that guru in the States for his rehab. Where Trac and Nic Nat went.

Someone of his value to the team needs the best during his recovery.

1 hour ago, Chook said:

Damn. Poor bloke.

Not sure anyone should spend big bucks on a bloke who's done his knee before. Massive chance of it reoccurring, especially on that hell-hole that is [Sponsor name here] Stadium.

Shame, there was so much to agree with in that post but you had to throw this in "Not sure anyone should spend big bucks on a bloke who's done his knee before. Massive chance of it reoccurring".

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.

38 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

That long !! That's a while . You're up on these things so don't doubt you for a second. It's the nature and type of tear/etc ?? I had hoped these things were a little quicker these days.

That's a blow ..for all.

Again.. good luck Jake.

The ruptured ligament is surgically replaced by an equivalent tissue, harvested in Jake's case from his patellar tendon or quadriceps tendon, as his hamstring has already been used. First stage is the anchored graft blending with the bone (3 months). Over the next 6 months it redevelops a blood supply, thus making it a fully regenerative tissue. 9 months total. Teenage recon failure rates are higher than for adult recons, so when he comes back, already his knee will be statistically more robust than it was before yesterday. Considering he seemed to be walking well yesterday and today, it will very likely be uncomplicated by bone bruising or MCL/meniscal damage, and thus uncomplicated in recovery. He'll miss the next 14 games (think about it!) then be back game equivalent footy by early March next year.

Thanks @Webber

Not what I or any I imagine want to hear. At least he should be reasobably ok going forward ? 

18 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Send him off to that guru in the States for his rehab. Where Trac and Nic Nat went.

Someone of his value to the team needs the best during his recovery.

Melbourne has more ACL reconstructions performed per head of population than anywhere in the world. The best, most comprehensive science and rehabilitation in respect to recovery is right here. 

1 minute ago, Webber said:

Melbourne has more ACL reconstructions performed per head of population than anywhere in the world. The best, most comprehensive science and rehabilitation in respect to recovery is right here. 

I wonder why that is? AFL related?

42 minutes ago, dieter said:

I agree. However, Gawn went down early in the year, then Spencer. We still won games without them, also without Hogan, Jones and Viney...

We won some games, sure...but not enough to make finals. Do you think we would have had a percentage 0.05% higher if we'd been able to put out our best 22 more often?

I think the answer is yes. If you think the answer is yes, then you agree that injuries cost us finals.

I reckon we were a rough chance of a flag this year because the competition is weak (no superstar teams, IMO), but we'd need lots to go right. We're clearly a better side with Lever, and thus our rough chance has become that much tougher. Disappointing, but such is life.

10 minutes ago, Rogue said:

We won some games, sure...but not enough to make finals. Do you think we would have had a percentage 0.05% higher if we'd been able to put out our best 22 more often?

I think the answer is yes. If you think the answer is yes, then you agree that injuries cost us finals.

I reckon we were a rough chance of a flag this year because the competition is weak (no superstar teams, IMO), but we'd need lots to go right. We're clearly a better side with Lever, and thus our rough chance has become that much tougher. Disappointing, but such is life.

I agree, once again. But, we are not a one man team: if we deserve to win a flag it will be because we were able to cover our injuries. Last year we fell short. We're a better side this year.

50 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Gawn has had two ACL’s in 2009 and 2012. Also had another serious knee injury. He got over all three of them.

That’s a good point but I’m sure it was a tough road back for him too which was merely what I was saying about Jake. 

Hope Frost can step up and take his shot.
Could be a real attacking weapon if he tidies a couple things up.

 

Frost is almost the opposite of Lever IMO. Always rushed and clumsy. Tries his hardest and an amazing athlete, just don’t know if he has the footy smarts and skills. 

Would it be ridiculous to try Fritsch back there? Lovely overheard and a beautiful kick.