Jump to content

Discussion on recent allegations about the use of illicit drugs in football is forbidden
  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    Posting unsubstantiated rumours on this website is strictly forbidden.

    Demonland has made the difficult decision to not permit this platform to be used to discuss & debate the off-field issues relating to the Melbourne Football Club including matters currently being litigated between the Club & former Board members, board elections, the issue of illicit drugs in footy, the culture at the club & the personal issues & allegations against some of our players & officials ...

    We do not take these issues & this decision lightly & of course we believe that these serious matters affecting the club we love & are so passionate about are worthy of discussion & debate & I wish we could provide a place where these matters can be discussed in a civil & respectful manner.

    However these discussions unfortunately invariably devolve into areas that may be defamatory, libelous, spread unsubstantiated rumours & can effect the mental health of those involved. Even discussion & debate of known facts or media reports can lead to finger pointing, blame & personal attacks.

    The repercussion is that these discussions can open this website, it’s owners & it’s users to legal action & may result in this website being forced to shutdown.

    Our moderating team are all volunteers & cannot moderate the forum 24/7 & as a consequence problematic content that contravenes our rules & standards may go unnoticed for some time before it can be removed.

    We reserve the right to delete posts that offend against our above policy & indeed, to ban posters who are repeat offenders or who breach our code of conduct.

    WE HAVE BUILT A FANTASTIC ONLINE COMMUNITY AT DEMONLAND OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS & WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE CLUB WE LOVE & ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.

    Thank you for your continued support & understanding. Go Dees.


Jake Lever.. Can someone explain??


dazzledavey36

Recommended Posts

1 minute ago, Megatron said:

Haha. Clearly not going by this article. 

Have a read and educate yourself. Remember this article was in 2017. His last year with the crows in which he played a pivotal role in them making it to the Grand Final and why we paid what we did. 

https://www.afl.com.au/news/121080/why-are-clubs-so-keen-to-lure-jake-lever

He was terrific at the crows. A big part of his success was big able to focus solely on the the intercept role and not have to be accountable for adirect oppoent. And the reason he was able to play that role and rack up all those sexy intercept stats was the rest of the defence doing their job, in particular Thalia. The system they employed also supported him playing that role -  one that involved not being accountable for an opponent. Exactly the role he plays for us . I can't recall the name of the fella but when Lever left he slotted into that role and also looked great. 

That article (which reads like his manager wrote it) suggest he is heir apparent to Rance. Don't get me wrong i think he is good player, but he is not in Rance's league. And wont ever be, To be fair few are. But that is what we were hoping to get. 

Of course the knee injury made things hard to assess but he is poor kick and for defender, very poor one on one. These deficiencies are not a function of his knee injury and were apparent at the crows.

Saw that tonight. No way Rance lets Cripps take that mark (the one he missed) 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

55 minutes ago, whitito said:

Yes, I would finish a guy who is coming off an unprecedented break???!!!Touch was always going to be a problem, and this has been common across the league. Dusty Martin looked out of touch and shape. The hyperbole on here is laughable

Hasn't looked the same for 18 months, why is this hyperbole? Your clearly a soft touch accepting these sorts of efforts.

Edited by Win4theAges
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Half forward flank said:

No need to tell me to educte myself. As it happens the summary is by a non event journo and talks about a nine game period in one year.  Comparing him to Rance and McGovern is and was laughable. They were key defenders, Lever a third tall.  Fool journos like this one were exactly what pumped up his asking price. Makes you wonder.

You said stats don’t lie about him being overrated. I’m just showing you an article to show you he’s not. Lever is an intercept player. He led the league at that point in intercept marks. Even in 2016 he was up there in the top few and that was his second year of footy. 2017 was even better and he was only 21 then. He’s only just turned 24 now. 
Give him and the back line a few games together before making comments like that. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, dieter said:

Yes, only watched highlights, glad I have a dog which needs regular dog park frolics, because otherwise I'd have been on the roller coast ride from  heaven and back. The highlights of the second half show the same old bulldust of three Melbourne players flying for marks, no-one at the bottom to mop up. I ask myself, why does this keep happening????It's like checking your Tattslotto ticket every Saturday night and finding your numbers are bulldust. The same with our back line. 

Those tall backs are going to need time to learn to work as one. That's the best hope I can offer.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, binman said:

I rate Smith. But he was flat out terrible today. 

Melk can be a good player. But more often than not isn't. Like today. And personally it is that type of player I hate the most. Talent but pick and choose when to use it, with a dose of infuriating arrogance thrown in, type of player.

Anb is exactly the opposite. Not the most talented but his level of effort and desire never drops. That is the sort of player I like.

Then you get a player like cripps who combine talent, consistency and work rate. The true stars. How many of these do we have? Realistically only gawn and tracc. 

I thought Clarry had the better of the battle with Cripps until Cripps moved off him to the forward line.

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Megatron said:

You said stats don’t lie about him being overrated. I’m just showing you an article to show you he’s not. Lever is an intercept player. He led the league at that point in intercept marks. Even in 2016 he was up there in the top few and that was his second year of footy. 2017 was even better and he was only 21 then. He’s only just turned 24 now. 
Give him and the back line a few games together before making comments like that. 

You gave stats for 9 games.  36 marks.  Who would recruit anyone based on being an intercept mark. What does that stat even mean?  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, Megatron said:

You said stats don’t lie about him being overrated. I’m just showing you an article to show you he’s not. Lever is an intercept player. He led the league at that point in intercept marks. Even in 2016 he was up there in the top few and that was his second year of footy. 2017 was even better and he was only 21 then. He’s only just turned 24 now. 
Give him and the back line a few games together before making comments like that. 

Sam Frost and your Lever

Lever 5.5 marks per game career average

Sam Frost 5.3 per game career average

I like Frosty but he is just a battler and has as good a stats as Lever. Hope I am wrong but never liked this deal. Two first round picks..

Link to comment
Share on other sites


 

We essentially gave up Lachie O'Brien & Liam Stocker for Lever

Not the worst thing ever but still no player is worth that unless they are elite. 

It was the IT thing to do trade two first round picks.

Thought he was okay in first half.

The whole backline was dysfunctional 

May, Lever & Smith all flying for the same ball. Cost us 2 or 3 goals on poor positioning.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

I thought Clarry had the better of the battle with Cripps until Cripps moved off him to the forward line.

Agree. But Oliver has got a way to go to get near Cripps as a player.

Cripps imposed himself on the game in that last quarter and almost won it for them. That's what the real stars find a way to do. Oliver is not there yet. 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes today was not too good for Lever. Glad that he got through and will be better with May and Jetta once they play more together.  Lever will be better. 
 

We gave two 1st round picks for an intercept defender.  Not sure he’s worth that or the $600k price tag. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

25 minutes ago, Half forward flank said:

Sam Frost and your Lever

Lever 5.5 marks per game career average

Sam Frost 5.3 per game career average

I like Frosty but he is just a battler and has as good a stats as Lever. Hope I am wrong but never liked this deal. Two first round picks..

Jeremy Howe walking out has cost us a lot in retrospect. We would not have needed to chase Lever as an intercept back and instead would have taken our first rounders. So far Lever is just a player, hope this changes. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The problem with Lever isn't his ability. It's his role within our defensive unit overall.

Like almost every player in the league, he has weaknesses, and they get exploited when:

  1. 2-3 of Smith, May, Jetta and Lever jump at the same ball;
  2. May and others shank kicks coming outside of the back 50, opening us up on a quick rebound;
  3. our mids/forwards don't put the requisite level of pressure on the opposition, meaning they get to pick and choose who they're kicking to.

Lever is essential to holding our defensive unit together but when the other cogs break down, he does too. He isn't very good one-on-one but if we're playing well, he doesn't end up one-on-one very often and the ball isn't coming in to our opposition forwards' advantage.

He can do better, but there are much more significant issues in our midfield and forward line than there is with Lever.

  • Like 10
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Earl Hood said:

Jeremy Howe walking out has cost us a lot in retrospect. We would not have needed to chase Lever as an intercept back and instead would have taken our first rounders. So far Lever is just a player, hope this changes. 

One of the biggest failures of the Roos era - being unable to convince Howe he was a defender and making sure the club saw his value as such. Given his desire to be a forward I wasn't too upset we effectively swapped him for Hibberd who was a better kick and more reliable at the time, but what I'd give for him now.

Still, I can't believe our lack of success drafting and developing defenders the last few years. We've paid a lot for May and Lever and how many have we drafted Petty, Hore, Lockhart, Joel Smith. Should be taking athletic/competitive talents every year and developing them. It was refreshing to see Rivers come in and look comfortable.

  • Like 4
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

One of the biggest failures of the Roos era - being unable to convince Howe he was a defender and making sure the club saw his value as such. Given his desire to be a forward I wasn't too upset we effectively swapped him for Hibberd who was a better kick and more reliable at the time, but what I'd give for him now.

Still, I can't believe our lack of success drafting and developing defenders the last few years. We've paid a lot for May and Lever and how many have we drafted Petty, Hore, Lockhart, Joel Smith. Should be taking athletic/competitive talents every year and developing them. It was refreshing to see Rivers come in and look comfortable.

Losing Howe for sure and you add Hogan as well. I know we got May but that is still a long way from a win and I dont think his value is as  a deep back taking kick outs. Then you add OMac and one of those two brothers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

The problem with Lever isn't his ability. It's his role within our defensive unit overall.

Like almost every player in the league, he has weaknesses, and they get exploited when:

  1. 2-3 of Smith, May, Jetta and Lever jump at the same ball;
  2. May and others shank kicks coming outside of the back 50, opening us up on a quick rebound;
  3. our mids/forwards don't put the requisite level of pressure on the opposition, meaning they get to pick and choose who they're kicking to.

Lever is essential to holding our defensive unit together but when the other cogs break down, he does too. He isn't very good one-on-one but if we're playing well, he doesn't end up one-on-one very often and the ball isn't coming in to our opposition forwards' advantage.

He can do better, but there are much more significant issues in our midfield and forward line than there is with Lever.

Love this post. It’s as much structure as anything. If everyone pulls their weight and we lock it inside 50 or slow the opposition’s ball movement, Lever repels everything by peeling off and spoiling/marking. Yet, when it breaks down badly it becomes like the early 2010s when good defenders such as Rivers and Frawley were standing hands on hips watching the opposition amass a cricket score against us. 

Not sure we’ve quite got the backline mix together yet to exploit Lever’s talents, however, it’s all moot until those up the ground put some pressure on. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

What exactly is his role in this team?

We gave up two 1st round draft picks for someone plays zero accountable football.

Needs to give more.

After all pick swaps, it equated to a pick 10. I'd take Lever for 10. That was the whole point in 17', we needed proven defenders, not a speculative kid

Edited by John Demonic
  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites


13 hours ago, binman said:

I rate Smith. But he was flat out terrible today. 

Why?

He proved yet again he is a poor decision maker & not up to the hype.

It seems his only role is to try and take the mark of this century to keep it in the family.

Frost II.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, John Demonic said:

After all pick swaps, it equated to a pick 10. I'd take Lever for 10. That was the whole point in 17', we needed proven defenders, not a speculative kid

I understand there was a pick 19 for the following year we gave up. As to pick 10, Lachie OBrien has stats equal to lever over the same period being paid a lot less.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

One of the biggest failures of the Roos era - being unable to convince Howe he was a defender and making sure the club saw his value as such.

Same for LDunn;  early on when he was being pushed to defence.   Almost exactly the same.

This to me says, those players were putting their own interest,  ahead of the teams interests.  And so,  I am not surprised they no longer are wearing RednBlue jumpers. This says a lot about our inside culture of the players,  back then.

 

More take, and less giving.    A ring of greed and self, around the club.   A subtle one,  but it is there.

Robbie Flower had a huge effect on this club,  when he was there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gee... didn't think he was terrible yesterday or in round one.

Thought he got his fist to plenty of balls and killed the contest as the third man up.

There was a couple of times that he went to spoil where he could have taken that mark, but that would have to be team rules.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

What exactly is his role in this team?

We gave up two 1st round draft picks for someone plays zero accountable football.

Needs to give more.

One week in a football career he intercepts well and feeds out the ball adequately; the next week he is unsighted and gets no feeds for other players. That ain't what we paid for; neither is it what he owes us after expensive remediation and heaps of trust at the selection table. We have juniors who could learn such a craft and who could execute these skills far better.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Every Game in '64 said:

ALL LEVER NEEDS TO DO IS SHAVE OFF THE YMCA MO WHICH HE COPIED FROM TEX WALKER.

MAYBE SWAP SMITH AND MCDONALD.

Definitely swap Smith and McDonald. Smith needs to 'flank' it on the forward line, however. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all.    On that rainy Friday night at the Adelaide Oval, Ken Hinkley’s young midfield secured much more than four points on offer. The victory over one of the big dogs of the competition after a succession of wins over some of its lesser lights gave his team respect and validation fo

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    TRAINING: Monday 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training. DEMON DYNASTY'S TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Kade Chandler's left knee heavily strapped. BBB, Spargs & Jake Lever also in rehab group. Jake Bowey solo running separate kicking/sprint/agility drills. Super fine morning / early arvo at Gosch's for the boys to blow out some cobwebs. Choco initially had the light duties / rehab group

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter. By the time they worked out it was game on, their opponents from Box Hill had accumulated five goals and, if the game wasn’t over, it might as well have been. For a se

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Casey Articles

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head. The Demons have now won nine of their last ten encounters with the other result, a draw.     And like a fork, it was the multi-pronged options that Melbourne had all across the ground.  It certainly helped that Hawthorn

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 8

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in the Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out?

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 262

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 25th March @ 8:30pm. Join George, Binman & I as we analyse the Demons victory at the MCG against the Hawks in the Round 02. You 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. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human. Listen & Chat

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 46

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 50

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 357

    GAMEDAY: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 437
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast 

  • Podcast Stream 


    Open Stream in
    New Window
        TuneIn    Opens in New Tab
  • Support Demonland  



  • 2021 Premiership  

  • Social Media 

  • Non MFC Games  

    NON-MFC: Round 03

    Discussion of all the other games that don't involve the Demons in Round 03 ... READ MORE

    Demonland | Round 03

  • Match Preview      

    DEPTH CHARGE by Whispering Jack

    The jubilation on the coach’s face as he danced a celebratory jig by the playing bench after the final siren sounded to record his team’s four-point victory over the Demons when the teams last met, said it all ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 27

  • Latest Podcast      

    PODCAST: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The boys dissected the clinical thrashing of Hawks praising the immense performance of Christian Petracca whilst lamenting the injury toll to our defensive unit ... LISTEN

    Demonland | March 26

  • Training  

    Monday, 25th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Demon Dynasty & Kev Martin were trackside at Gosch's Paddock today to bring you their observations from training ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • Casey Report      

    HIBERNATING by KC from Casey

    When they locked up the rooms for summer at the end of last year’s football season, the rooms gathered cobwebs, the atmosphere became dense and the place developed a sleepy feel. They opened up the rooms to let Casey out to play on Sunday but the team was still hibernating and they missed the bulk of the opening quarter ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 25

  • PreGame      

    PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Port Adelaide

    The Demons head out on the road for the next 2 weeks as they travel to Adelaide to play Port on Saturday and then have a 5 Day break before facing the Crows in Gather Round. With injuries to May and Lever who comes in and who goes out? ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 28

  • Match Report      

    A FORK IN THE HAWK by George on the Outer

    For too long in the past, Demon fans became habitually sick and tired of watching the Hawks hand out thrashings to their side. But Melbourne’s empahtic 55-point win at the MCG on Saturday has truly put a fork in the Hawk and turned that history well and truly on its head ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Post Game      

    POSTGAME: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    The Demons cruised to an easy 55 point win over the Hawks at the MCG but but paid a heavy toll on the injury front with Steven May & Jake Lever possibly sidelined for a number of weeks ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Votes      

    VOTES: Rd 02 vs Hawthorn

    Last week Steven May took the lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Jack Viney. Clayton Oliver & Max Gawn round out the Top 4. Your votes for the win/loss against/to the Hawks. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Game Day      

    GAMEDAY: Round 02 vs Hawthorn

    It's Game Day and after mixed results in the first two weeks of the season the Demons have the opportunity to capitalise on their good form last week when they take on the Hawks at the MCG today ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 23

  • Training  

    Friday, 22nd March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatcher Kev Martin and I attended the Captain's Run at Gosch's Paddock on this lovely sunny morning to bring you the following observations from the training session ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 22

  • Training  

    Tuesday, 19th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin & Walking Civil War attended Tuesday morning's training session at Gosch's Paddock to bring you the following observations ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 19

  • Training  

    Saturday, 16th March 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers Kev Martin and Dee Zephyr wandered down to Gosch's Paddock on Saturday morning to bring you their observations from the Captain's Run in the lead up to Sunday's Round One match against the Bulldogs ... READ MORE

    Demonland | March 16

  • Farewell  

    Angus Brayshaw Retires

    After 167 games including the drought breaking Premiership Angus Brayshaw has made the heart breaking decision to medically retire from football as a result of a series of serious head knocks over his nearly decade of footy. We wish Gus all the best and he'll always be a hero at Demonland ... READ MORE

    Demonland | February 22

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Koltyn Tholstrup Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club’s newest recruit Koltyn Tholstrup to have a chat about his journey from the farm to the Demons, his first few weeks of preseason training, which Dees have impressed him on the track and his aspirations of playing Round 1 ... LISTEN

    Demonland | December 14

  • Latest Podcast  

    PODCAST: Jason Taylor Interview

    I interview the Melbourne Football Club's National Recruitment Manager Jason Taylor to have a chat about our Trade and Draft period, our newest recruits, our recent recruits who have yet to debut as well as those father son prospects on the horizon ... LISTEN

    Demonland | November 27

  • Next Match 

    .

    Round 03

       vs   

    Saturday 30th March 2024
    @ 07:30pm (AO)

  • MFC Forum  

  • Match Previews & Reports  

  • Training Forum  

  • AFLW Forum  

  • 2024 Player Sponsorship

  • Topics

  • Injury List  


      PLAYER INJURY LENGTH
    Jake Lever Knee Test
    Clayton Oliver Hand Test
    Oliver Sestan Concussion Test
    Steven May Ribs 1 Week
    Lachie Hunter Calf 1 Week
    Daniel Turner Hip 2-3 Weeks
    Charlie Spargo Achilles 2-4 Weeks
    Shane McAdam Hamstring 3-5 Weeks
    Jake Bowey Shoulder 7 Weeks
    Jake Melksham ACL 12-14 Weeks
    Joel Smith Suspension TBA

  • Player of the Year  


        PLAYER VOTES
    1 Christian Petracca 27
    2 Steven May 25
    3 Max Gawn 21
    4 Jack Viney 20
    5 Bayley Fritsch 19
    6 Clayton Oliver 18
    7 Christian Salem 12
    8 Blake Howes 11
    9 Jack Billings 10
    9 Alex Neal-Bullen 10

        FULL TABLE
  • Demonland Interviews 



  • Upcoming Events 

×
×
  • Create New...