Jump to content

Jake Lever Intercepts

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 
22 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

You would be happy enough as the opposition with any of them excluding Hurley getting the ball as they are all average kicks and you're every chance of getting it right back.

I still would like to see Lever play on a decent opponent and beat them. It seems like as a result of having Lever in the team, we will also need Oscar so I will judge Lever quite harshly because of this. Had a couple of good patches in the pre season, however his skills are still average. I was also a bit critical of his judgement in the Hawthorn game, he went for chest marks on a couple of occasions and the balls got spoiled as a result.

Will be interested to see how our backline stacks up once we play a team with dangerous forwards, Round 1 will be a big test for Lever if he is trying to peel off Waterman and assist with Kennedy and Darling.

Edited by Watts the matter

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Sad 1

    Would have been nice if someone had intercepted Brandon Zerk-Thatcher's parents en route to the birth registration office.  

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Haha 8
    • Shocked 1
     
    8 hours ago, Demonland said:

     

    5th in total intercepts across two games is ok impressive. Loses all credibility though when a random called Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is #1. 

     Reminds me of when a girl beat all the the boys in a wrestling comp in the Stayes recently 

     

    95ACFCE8-37FB-4110-AE05-4CE6C47E081C.jpeg

  • Quote
    9 hours ago, Watts the matter said:

    You would be happy enough as the opposition with any of them excluding Hurley getting the ball as they are all average kicks and you're every chance of getting it right back.

    I still would like to see Lever play on a decent opponent and beat them. It seems like as a result of having Lever in the team, we will also need Oscar so I will judge Lever quite harshly because of this. Had a couple of good patches in the pre season, however his skills are still average. I was also a bit critical of his judgement in the Hawthorn game, he went for chest marks on a couple of occasions and the balls got spoiled as a result.

    Will be interested to see how our backline stacks up once we play a team with dangerous forwards, Round 1 will be a big test for Lever if he is trying to peel off Waterman and assist with Kennedy and Darling.

    It's always been fairly well known that Lever's role is as the third tall to peel off and intercept,  so I don't think we should start having expectations of him becoming a lock down type defender.  We did try him as a lock down for half a dozen games at the start of 2018 and it did benefit anyone, so I don't think we should waste our time with that anymore.  My personal view is also that Lever is only an average kick himself though, so not sure that logic stacks up.  On the positive, although it's only a small sample of preseason games, I'm encouraged that Levers intercept numbers are up their - pretty hard to get hurt by his loose man or the oppo's small forwards if we have control of the ball.

    I saw some encouraging signs against Hawthorn that O Mac is starting to find his mojo again, so I reasonably comfortable for him to lock down the key forward and release lever.  Otherwise, perhaps we need to send Petty back there again once fit or perhaps it's even an oppertunity to give Weid or T Mac a run in defense - if they struggles find form up forward, perhaps a run down back could actually help them find the leather again.

    Overall though, key lockdown defenders are probably where we should be looking to stock-up and develop at the next draft, somehow trade for or prefferably poach as a FA as May won't last that much longer in the scheme of things.

    Edited by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    1 hour ago, FarNorthernD said:

    5th in total intercepts across two games is ok impressive. Loses all credibility though when a random called Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is #1. 

     Reminds me of when a girl beat all the the boys in a wrestling comp in the Stayes recently 

     

    95ACFCE8-37FB-4110-AE05-4CE6C47E081C.jpeg

    Maybe she was just a very good wrestler?

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    11 hours ago, Watts the matter said:

    You would be happy enough as the opposition with any of them excluding Hurley getting the ball as they are all average kicks and you're every chance of getting it right back.

    I still would like to see Lever play on a decent opponent and beat them. It seems like as a result of having Lever in the team, we will also need Oscar so I will judge Lever quite harshly because of this. Had a couple of good patches in the pre season, however his skills are still average. I was also a bit critical of his judgement in the Hawthorn game, he went for chest marks on a couple of occasions and the balls got spoiled as a result.

    Will be interested to see how our backline stacks up once we play a team with dangerous forwards, Round 1 will be a big test for Lever if he is trying to peel off Waterman and assist with Kennedy and Darling.

    Why? It's not his job.

  • Quote
    •  
    25 minutes ago, Undeeterred said:

    Why? It's not his job.

    with the money he is on, i'd expect it to be

    Edited by Demon Disciple

  • Quote
    20 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

    with the money he is on, i'd expect it to be

    Which is why you are not the coach. Players have roles, his may be intercept defender, which he appears to do well. 

  • Quote

    12 hours ago, Watts the matter said:

    You would be happy enough as the opposition with any of them excluding Hurley getting the ball as they are all average kicks and you're every chance of getting it right back.

    I still would like to see Lever play on a decent opponent and beat them. It seems like as a result of having Lever in the team, we will also need Oscar so I will judge Lever quite harshly because of this. Had a couple of good patches in the pre season, however his skills are still average. I was also a bit critical of his judgement in the Hawthorn game, he went for chest marks on a couple of occasions and the balls got spoiled as a result.

    Will be interested to see how our backline stacks up once we play a team with dangerous forwards, Round 1 will be a big test for Lever if he is trying to peel off Waterman and assist with Kennedy and Darling.

    I know this is just another shot at OMac, but really May is the one who benefits the most from having OMac in the team, and why IMO they were happier to move Frost on. May has said he plays best knowing there is someone behind him allowing him to play more aggressively (he loved having Thompson in that role at the GC), OMac for all his faults will stick and do what his job is, he won't get caught ball chasing. Really Lever's best role is the floating intercepting defender (or 3rd tall as people like to call it), but that can only happen with a guy like May if you've also got the backstop holding their position. 

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    56 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

    with the money he is on, i'd expect it to be

    I agree DD

    Players have more than one role & to think otherwise is just rediculous. Lever's skill level needs improving, that's obvious, but once he builds consistency & strings a few more games together then I suspect this will improve.

    He has the added pressure of $800k per year so 2020 needs to be a good one for 'Tickets'....

     

  • Quote

    The Eagles are likely to have Kennedy, Darling and a second ruck in round 1.

    Oscar will take the resting ruck, which means Lever will get Darling for a decent chunk of the game and is going to have to win or halve a number of contests. 

    He doesn’t have to be an imposing stopper and the zone system should provide help to him inside 50 but he has to be stronger and more confident when one on one. 

  • Quote
    3 hours ago, Undeeterred said:

    Why? It's not his job.

     

    2 hours ago, ManDee said:

    Which is why you are not the coach. Players have roles, his may be intercept defender, which he appears to do well. 

    You guys are kidding yourselves if you think opposition coaches won't have exploiting Lever as their number 1 avenue to victory against Melbourne this year. He will be dragged back to the goal square at every opportunity and teams will play through his opponent as much as possible. He simply has to get better in this respect.

    The alternative is that May or McDonald has to beat their own man and Lever's as well.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    19 minutes ago, poita said:

     

    You guys are kidding yourselves if you think opposition coaches won't have exploiting Lever as their number 1 avenue to victory against Melbourne this year. He will be dragged back to the goal square at every opportunity and teams will play through his opponent as much as possible. He simply has to get better in this respect.

    The alternative is that May or McDonald has to beat their own man and Lever's as well.

    Teams will try. But The alternative is they swap opponents in play. We keep our defenders in place and they’ve got forwards in the wrong positions. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    28 minutes ago, poita said:

     

    You guys are kidding yourselves if you think opposition coaches won't have exploiting Lever as their number 1 avenue to victory against Melbourne this year. He will be dragged back to the goal square at every opportunity and teams will play through his opponent as much as possible. He simply has to get better in this respect.

    The alternative is that May or McDonald has to beat their own man and Lever's as well.

    Keyboard coaches! Kick it long, straight up the middle, stop messing around with it, don't kick across goal, man up, tackle don't coral, man on man, you do realise the game evolves? Floods, zones, press, clusters, paddocks, slingshots, handball at all costs are styles of play that challenge the old 18 players in position play. Lever is an intercepting defender, he is good at it, it is a roll that our coaches seem to like. I doubt that you have coached at AFL level so I choose to not value your opinion as much as our coaches. Do you know how zones work?

     

  • Quote
    • Like 6
    On 3/11/2020 at 11:28 AM, Demon Disciple said:

    with the money he is on, i'd expect it to be

    Stupidest thing I've ever heard. Gawn is on heaps, why don't you get him to do it?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    12 hours ago, Undeeterred said:

    Stupidest thing I've ever heard. Gawn is on heaps, why don't you get him to do it?

    Ummm.............. he already does.

    Gawn is a premier ruckman who plays on (and more often than not beats) the oppositions ruckman. However, he has shown on numerous occasions his ability in taking numerous contested pack marks in both the forward and back line. Uncontested marking is a cake-walk compared to the stuff Gawn does.

    With the money Max is on, he should be doing it (and continually is). Subsequently so should Lever.

    But if that's seriously the stupidest thing you've ever heard Undeeterred, then i am wasting my time even trying to justify it to you.

    Edited by Demon Disciple

  • Quote
    On 3/17/2020 at 12:53 PM, Demon Disciple said:

    Ummm.............. he already does.

    Gawn is a premier ruckman who plays on (and more often than not beats) the oppositions ruckman. However, he has shown on numerous occasions his ability in taking numerous contested pack marks in both the forward and back line. Uncontested marking is a cake-walk compared to the stuff Gawn does.

    With the money Max is on, he should be doing it (and continually is). Subsequently so should Lever.

    But if that's seriously the stupidest thing you've ever heard Undeeterred, then i am wasting my time even trying to justify it to you.

    I said Lever shouldn't be expected to play as a 1 on 1 key defender, in response to others saying he should be able to because he's paid a lot.

    My point is that being paid a lot is completely irrelevant if it isn't what you're being paid to do. 

  • Quote
    On 3/17/2020 at 12:53 PM, Demon Disciple said:

    Ummm.............. he already does.

    Gawn is a premier ruckman who plays on (and more often than not beats) the oppositions ruckman. However, he has shown on numerous occasions his ability in taking numerous contested pack marks in both the forward and back line. Uncontested marking is a cake-walk compared to the stuff Gawn does.

    With the money Max is on, he should be doing it (and continually is). Subsequently so should Lever.

    But if that's seriously the stupidest thing you've ever heard Undeeterred, then i am wasting my time even trying to justify it to you.

    I could equally have said 'why don't you get Pickett to do it'. Same point being made.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • NON-MFC: Round 11

      Round 11, the second week of The Sir Doug Nicholls Round, kicks off on Thursday night with the Cats hosting the Bulldogs at Kardinia Park. Geelong will be looking to to continue their decade long dominance over the Bulldogs, while the Dogs aim to take another big scalp as they surge up the ladder. On Friday night it's he Dreamtime at the 'G clash between Essendon and Richmond. The Bombers will want to avoid another embarrassing performance against a lowly side whilst the Tigers will be keen to avenge a disappointing loss to the Kangaroos. Saturday footy kicks off as the Blues face the Giants in a pivotal clash for both clubs. Carlton need to turn around their up and down season while GWS will be eager to bounce back and reassert themselves as a September threat. At twilight sees the Hawks taking on the Lions at the G. Hawthorn need to cement themselves in the Top 4 but they’ll need to be at their best to challenge a Brisbane side eager to respond after last week’s crushing loss to the Dees on their home turf. The first of the Saturday night double headers opens with North Melbourne up against the high-flying Magpies. The Roos will need a near-perfect performance to trouble a Collingwood side sitting atop the ladder.

        • Thanks
      • 143 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Sydney

      The two teams competing at the MCG on Sunday afternoon have each traversed a long and arduous path since their previous encounter on a sweltering March evening in Sydney a season and a half ago. Both experienced periods of success at various times last year. The Demons ran out of steam in midseason while the Swans went on to narrowly miss the ultimate prize in the sport. Now, they find themselves outside of finals contention as the season approaches the halfway mark. The winner this week will remain in contact with the leading pack, while the loser may well find itself on a precipice, staring into the abyss. The current season has presented numerous challenges for most clubs, particularly those positioned in the middle tier. The Essendon experience in suffering a significant 91-point loss to the Bulldogs, just one week after defeating the Swans, may not be typical, but it illustrates the unpredictability of outcomes under the league’s present set up. 

        • Clap
        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 3 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Brisbane

      “Max Gawn has been the heart and soul of the Dees for years now, but this recent recovery from a terrible start has been driven by him. He was everywhere again, and with the game in the balance, he took several key marks to keep the ball in the Dees forward half.” - The Monday Knee Jerk Reaction: Round Ten Of course, it wasn’t the efforts of one man that caused this monumental upset, but rather the work of the coach and his assistants and the other 22 players who took the ground, notably the likes of Jake Melksham, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Kozzie Pickett but Max has been magnificent in taking ownership of his team and its welfare under the fire of a calamitous 0-5 start to the season. On Sunday, he provided the leadership that was needed to face up to the reigning premier and top of the ladder Brisbane Lions on their home turf and to prevail after a slow start, during which the hosts led by as much as 24 points in the second quarter. Titus O’Reily is normally comedic in his descriptions of the football but this time, he was being deadly serious. The Demons have come from a long way back and, although they still sit in the bottom third of the AFL pack, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel as they look to drive home the momentum inspired in the past four or five weeks by Max the Magnificent who was under such great pressure in those dark, early days of the season.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Southport

      The Southport Sharks came to Casey. They saw and they conquered a team with 16 AFL-listed players who, for the most part, wasted their time on the ground and failed to earn their keep. For the first half, the Sharks were kept in the game by the Demons’ poor use of the football, it’s disposal getting worse the closer the team got to its own goal and moreover, it got worse as the game progressed. Make no mistake, Casey was far and away the better team in the first half, it was winning the ruck duels through Tom Campbell’s solid performance but it was the scoreboard that told the story.

        • Thanks
      • 3 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Sydney

      Just a game and percentage outside the Top 8, the Demons return to Melbourne to face the Sydney Swans at the MCG, with a golden opportunity to build on the momentum from toppling the reigning premiers on their own turf. Who comes in, and who makes way?

        • Thanks
      • 308 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Brisbane

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 12th May @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we analyse a famous victory by the Demons over the Lions at the Gabba.
      Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
      Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

        • Clap
        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 35 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All