2021 Player Reviews: #8 Jake Lever

[Demonland 73,492]

 

Shares a leadership role in the team’s defence with Steven May and had a sensational season with his record breaking rebounding defensive work. He was instrumental in helping the team into such a strong position at the end of the season and for his outstanding work in the finals.

 

Date of Birth: 5 March, 1996

Height: 195cm

Weight: 91kg

 

Games MFC 2021: 25

Career Total: 117

 

Goals MFC 2021: 0

Career Total: 3

 

Brownlow Medal Votes 2021: 5

 

All Australian

Premiership Player

[durango 2,023]

When he joined the club a lot of people on demonland questioned whether he was worth the 2 first round picks which we gave up to get him from Adelaide and had the foul mouthed Walker malign him for leaving the Crows, accusing him of chasing the dollars rather than success.

Well we suceeded where they failed Mr Tex Walker, have a good weekend sulk. 

[Jibroni 5,035]

7 minutes ago, durango said:

When he joined the club a lot of people on demonland questioned whether he was worth the 2 first round picks which we gave up to get him from Adelaide and had the foul mouthed Walker malign him for leaving the Crows, accusing him of chasing the dollars rather than success.

Well we suceeded where they failed Mr Tex Walker, have a good weekend sulk. 

Yes Durango -  Karma is a .......

[Fritta The Hair G.O.A.T. 510]

Absolute gun, he had a phenomenal season and I quietly suspect he was a big part of the change in culture around the club. Lever is a born leader and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he captained the club at some point in the future. Any media pundits who said we overpaid for him in 2017 can suck eggs, he has 100% paid back the price we paid for him, and then some

[Demonstone 23,338]

1 hour ago, durango said:

When he joined the club a lot of people on demonland questioned whether he was worth the 2 first round picks which we gave up to get him from Adelaide

Spot on, durango, the criticism was unrelenting - from the media and fans of other clubs, as well. 

What makes the deal even sweeter is that we also received a pick from Adelaide that we used to draft Harry Petty.

[spirit of norm smith 16,615]

Lots of experts and media commentators bagged the trading in of Lever and May.  They sighted Ben King as a future champion, given as part of the Hogan-May deal. 
 

Well … we got a premiership and Lever and May were key parts of the year and in the GF. 
 

Who’s laughing now 🤣🤣🤣🙂🙂

Jake Lever had a sensational year.  Turned into a defensive weapon. Deserved All Australian.  
Future captain perhaps.  

[DeeZone 10,404]

1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

Spot on, durango, the criticism was unrelenting - from the media and fans of other clubs, as well. 

What makes the deal even sweeter is that we also received a pick from Adelaide that we used to draft Harry Petty.

So arguably we received two first rounders back.😀💕❤️💙

[DeeZone 10,404]

When we traded in Jake Lever it was a long term decision to fill a big hole in our team structure and add backline leadership to the group. We did have to give up a lot but Jake has proven his worth once he got his body right. In 2021 Rick took more intercept marks ,in the league, co led the stingiest backline since 1964, made all Australian and helped us win our first Granny in 57 years and as Demonstone pointed out we also ended up with Harrison Petty in that deal another premiership backline player. How sweet was that deal now.💕❤️💙

[Diamond_Jim 12,687]

Was probably a key to our successful season.

More than any other player he allowed Goodwin to build a successful gameplan which at its simplest denied opposing teams the easy rebounding forward entry that plagued us in 2017-2019.

While he doesn't have a great kick (lots of up and under type disposals) his decisions under pressure result in so many rebounds.

Thanks Jake

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

His reading of the play a split second before anyone else has him in very rare company, and I'm talking Carey, Lyon, Scarlet, Leppitsch etc...Somehow, he just KNOWs when.

I agree about his kicking, a definite flaw in his game, but with his understanding of his role, he is happy to give a chip or pass to Salem or May to release it, or Langdon and Rivers to run with it. 

Probably one of the best non-captain leaders we have ever had at the Dees. 

Love him. Pay whatever he wants to stay (turn of phrase, not literal) and sign him up long term.

[Webber 10,586]

15 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

I agree about his kicking, a definite flaw in his game

I reckon the one to Gawn in last quarter Rd 23 was ok. 

[rpfc 28,906]

When he came to the club I knew that something was different - rarely were we chosen by players - especially up and coming stars of the game.

Great leader.

[FlashInThePan 1,893]

Just for the record, his disposal efficiency across 2021 was 82.1% Defenders are always more maligned for their kicking than other players because any poor disposal back there can have such a big consequence. 

Also, 10.3 intercepts per game across the season…mind boggling. This is the highest average for a defender ever. The commentary around Lever when we brought him over seems absolutely laughable.‘He’s a one trick pony’ ‘He can’t lock down a power forward’ ‘Dees have paid far too much’, blah, blah, blah.

 Even if he had only one trick, it’s a pretty damn good trick. Marking or halving anything airborne that comes into the defensive arc. But he doesn’t just have one trick. He has a massive football IQ and is an awesome organiser and leader. He and May absolutely maintain our defensive structure. 

[Deeoldfart 8,106]

Rick is, without question, the most reliable rebounding defender in the game, and consistently in our best 6 or 7 players, which is outstanding for a defender in this day and age!  As mentioned by others, his leadership is a standout quality, and (along with Maysie), I reckon he played a huge part in developing and seamlessly knitting inexperienced players like Harry Petty, Bowser and Riv  into the best defensive system / unit in the game.  His croaky voice in some post game interviews, is evidence of his on-field coaching and leadership.  It’s hard to speak too highly of his season!

[DeeSpencer 26,290]

20 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

His reading of the play a split second before anyone else has him in very rare company, and I'm talking Carey, Lyon, Scarlet, Leppitsch etc...Somehow, he just KNOWs when.

I agree about his kicking, a definite flaw in his game, but with his understanding of his role, he is happy to give a chip or pass to Salem or May to release it, or Langdon and Rivers to run with it. 

Probably one of the best non-captain leaders we have ever had at the Dees. 

Love him. Pay whatever he wants to stay (turn of phrase, not literal) and sign him up long term.

He has a good long kick and is usually very reliable and accurate by hand - we he came from the Crows it was noticeable how clean he was on both hands. One thing I'm hoping for more next year is that the backline trust themselves to put the ball through the hands and run it out more, we have the talent to do it. The mids and forwards are so good at providing bail out options that the defenders often slam it on the boot, which is great to have as the back up especially against fierce pressure, but there's no reason we can't (to borrow a soccer term) play the ball out a bit more.

[Guest]

I’ve banged on about this before, but it bears repeating. The first time we played Footscray this year was sans crowds. Throughout the entire match you could hear Jake barking instructions to his fellow defenders. So much so that when interviewied post-match he was hoarse! Love this guy. 

[dworship 3,343]

7 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

I’ve banged on about this before, but it bears repeating. The first time we played Footscray this year was sans crowds. Throughout the entire match you could hear Jake barking instructions to his fellow defenders. So much so that when interviewied post-match he was hoarse! Love this guy. 

Riv has said a few times that he loves it because it takes the pressure off him worrying about his positioning. I was always impressed with Luke Hodge and Jordie with their organisation, especially their coaching of the younger players. For such a young person Lever is equally impressive.

[Pates 9,675]

Fair to say, worth the picks. What a gun. 

[monoccular 17,642]

2 hours ago, Pates said:

Fair to say, worth the picks. What a gun. 

Just out of interest, what did the Crows get with the swapped picks we gave for Lever (and Petty as someone alluded to earlier)?

[FlashInThePan 1,893]

They got Fogharty in 2017 (12) and the 2018 pick dropped to 16 and they picked up Ned McHenry

[Dr. Gonzo 24,444]

Absolute star, AA this year, averaged most intercept marks per game on record (only player to average over 4 per game I believe?) Future captain. And he's still only 25.

[In Harmes Way 7,840]

when the ball is in the air heading towards Lever in a defensive marking contest, my boy shrieks

RRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK  LLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRR

Invariably Jake marks the ball and I laugh every time.

[Bay Riffin 1,493]

Absolutely outstanding season both as a player and a leader. As well as a great finals series, in our best in the first two games and a decent grand final. For Petty , Rivers and Bowey to come in and do so well is a testament to how he gets them positioned right and recovering quickly if things don't go our way. When May got injured he stepped up beautifully.

As a leader when Rivers gave away a free early in the prelim, he was f1thy and the mics picked up Lever saying we need you focussed on the next one. You can see him doing that a lot during the game. we lacked that for so long.

One thing I do see watching our finals is people probably underestimate how quick he is. I think hes got genuine toe which helps.

To get him and Petty for two first rounders has been paid back in spades..

Edited October 18, 2021 by Bay Riffin

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,315]

Why do some call him Rick?

[Supreme_Demon 3,916]

I have no idea why he is called Rick?

Something to do with the moustache perhaps?

Anyway, I think Jake Lever has been a revelation for us in defence. If it wasn't for Lever and May we would not be a Premiership side.

Lever oozes leadership too. I think he could be a future Captain of the Melbourne Football Club.