Jake Lever isn’t interested in sugar coating the pain of being dropped last season for the first time in his AFL career.

It was round 16 in a season going nowhere for Melbourne and coach Simon Goodwin was desperately trying to find a circuit-breaker.

Lever had a long list of injuries he was carrying – ankle, knee, shoulder and foot.

But when coach Goodwin called him into a meeting, there was no equivocation.

Lever wasn’t being managed or rested.

He was being dropped to Casey.

Seven months on, the Demons All Australian believes the pain of being dropped has spurred him to a faultless pre-season that should set him up for a strong bounce-back year.

Speaking about the episode for the first time, he believes he handled the demotion in the only way he knows how.

Take it on the chin, agree to disagree, make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“On reflection, that was something I was really disappointed in as a senior player,” Lever told the Herald Sun in an exclusive interview from Callaway Golf’s Quantum launch event this week.

“In the end I guess it sort of drove me this off-season to train really hard and make sure that I don’t put myself in that position again this year. It was just the first time it’s ever happened in my career.

“So I’ve had an 11-year career where I had my spot every week and then to lose it, it was bloody tough. I was disappointed but I felt like I handled it pretty well. Went and played really well in the VFL and they got back in the next week and the rest is history. So, yeah, hopefully it’s the only time in my career.

“I guess it was tough at the time, and then you get your mates texting and everything like that. But in the end, it was good that it was sort of out there, because then it sort of ripped the band aid off and moved on pretty quickly.”

If Lever’s jaw dropped when he was told of the decision by the Demons football department, he is thankful he didn’t choose anger as the response.

Even if he was a little bit tempted.

“I don’t think I went aggressive. I was pretty short and sharp. We had a pretty good discussion the next day. I still sit here to this day and I don’t agree with it but that’s (Goodwin’s) opinion and match committee’s decision and so for me it’s kind of over now and hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”

The new broom that swept through Melbourne with Steven King’s appointment saw Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver traded, with contracted key back Steven May remaining only when rivals decided against trade bids.

If the reporting that Lever was “blindsided” by his omission was correct, he says any trade speculation was always wide of the mark.

“It was definitely not ever there. It’s funny. Going back two trade speculations, one was true and one wasn’t,” the ex-Adelaide defender says.

“You have to sit back and laugh. For me it was a bit of a shock at the start.

You have to do your due diligence. And I rang the club and said, ‘Is this from you?’ And it was definitely not from them. So I said, ‘Well, I don’t want to go anywhere’.

“So yeah, I’m really happy with where I’m at now, and I’m really excited about this year.

“It was a big list of injuries I had last year and not doing any pre-season was hard so I haven’t missed a session, touch wood. I just love being out there. It’s what I love doing and it’s what I noticed missing so much last year, just being out there. It’s been great to do the whole pre-season.”

May was told in no uncertain terms he would likely be moved on when his contract finished in 2027 but after his aborted trade dealings is in no hurry to give up his spot despite the selection crunch.

“He’s been great. We live right near each other, so we did a few off-season and Christmas break sessions together, and he’s moving really well,” Lever said.

“He’s done some things at training, the typical Steven May things he does. And I think the best thing for him was sort of a little bit the same as me. Kick in the arse and rip the bandaid off and get back on day one. And it was all smiles. He’s just part of the Melbourne footy club for this year, and that’s just what it is.

The Demons might be unrecognisable in many ways this year under King.

Changkuoth Jiath has slotted in seamlessly across half back to replace Jake Bowey, out with a navicular fracture and also recently having cut off a small slice of a finger in an accident fixing his bike.

The game plan is up tempo and aggressive, with defenders asked to buy into the rebounding game.

Kozzie Pickett has the keys to the midfield and will work in concert with cousin Latrelle, taken at pick 12 behind No.11 selection Xavier Taylor in last year’s national draft.

“Don’t go anywhere near him. He is as quick as anyone,” Lever said of Latrelle.

“And Kozzie has had a great pre-season so that;s been really exciting. He’s a 24-year-old guy who has signed a big contract but he’s doing some things now which are really special. He has Latrelle at the club and they are living together. It’s been amazing. Latrelle can do some pretty special things too.

“So it’s exciting. We have obviously had some really good drafts in the last three years. We ave had two early picks in all three years. Harvey Langford, Xavier Lindsay, Caleb Windsor, Koltyn Tholstrup, and they are all doing well so we are excited.”

5 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Jake Lever isn’t interested in sugar coating the pain of being dropped last season for the first time in his AFL career.

It was round 16 in a season going nowhere for Melbourne and coach Simon Goodwin was desperately trying to find a circuit-breaker.

Lever had a long list of injuries he was carrying – ankle, knee, shoulder and foot.

But when coach Goodwin called him into a meeting, there was no equivocation.

Lever wasn’t being managed or rested.

He was being dropped to Casey.

Seven months on, the Demons All Australian believes the pain of being dropped has spurred him to a faultless pre-season that should set him up for a strong bounce-back year.

Speaking about the episode for the first time, he believes he handled the demotion in the only way he knows how.

Take it on the chin, agree to disagree, make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“On reflection, that was something I was really disappointed in as a senior player,” Lever told the Herald Sun in an exclusive interview from Callaway Golf’s Quantum launch event this week.

“In the end I guess it sort of drove me this off-season to train really hard and make sure that I don’t put myself in that position again this year. It was just the first time it’s ever happened in my career.

“So I’ve had an 11-year career where I had my spot every week and then to lose it, it was bloody tough. I was disappointed but I felt like I handled it pretty well. Went and played really well in the VFL and they got back in the next week and the rest is history. So, yeah, hopefully it’s the only time in my career.

“I guess it was tough at the time, and then you get your mates texting and everything like that. But in the end, it was good that it was sort of out there, because then it sort of ripped the band aid off and moved on pretty quickly.”

If Lever’s jaw dropped when he was told of the decision by the Demons football department, he is thankful he didn’t choose anger as the response.

Even if he was a little bit tempted.

“I don’t think I went aggressive. I was pretty short and sharp. We had a pretty good discussion the next day. I still sit here to this day and I don’t agree with it but that’s (Goodwin’s) opinion and match committee’s decision and so for me it’s kind of over now and hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”

The new broom that swept through Melbourne with Steven King’s appointment saw Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver traded, with contracted key back Steven May remaining only when rivals decided against trade bids.

If the reporting that Lever was “blindsided” by his omission was correct, he says any trade speculation was always wide of the mark.

“It was definitely not ever there. It’s funny. Going back two trade speculations, one was true and one wasn’t,” the ex-Adelaide defender says.

“You have to sit back and laugh. For me it was a bit of a shock at the start.

You have to do your due diligence. And I rang the club and said, ‘Is this from you?’ And it was definitely not from them. So I said, ‘Well, I don’t want to go anywhere’.

“So yeah, I’m really happy with where I’m at now, and I’m really excited about this year.

“It was a big list of injuries I had last year and not doing any pre-season was hard so I haven’t missed a session, touch wood. I just love being out there. It’s what I love doing and it’s what I noticed missing so much last year, just being out there. It’s been great to do the whole pre-season.”

May was told in no uncertain terms he would likely be moved on when his contract finished in 2027 but after his aborted trade dealings is in no hurry to give up his spot despite the selection crunch.

“He’s been great. We live right near each other, so we did a few off-season and Christmas break sessions together, and he’s moving really well,” Lever said.

“He’s done some things at training, the typical Steven May things he does. And I think the best thing for him was sort of a little bit the same as me. Kick in the [censored] and rip the bandaid off and get back on day one. And it was all smiles. He’s just part of the Melbourne footy club for this year, and that’s just what it is.

The Demons might be unrecognisable in many ways this year under King.

Changkuoth Jiath has slotted in seamlessly across half back to replace Jake Bowey, out with a navicular fracture and also recently having cut off a small slice of a finger in an accident fixing his bike.

The game plan is up tempo and aggressive, with defenders asked to buy into the rebounding game.

Kozzie Pickett has the keys to the midfield and will work in concert with cousin Latrelle, taken at pick 12 behind No.11 selection Xavier Taylor in last year’s national draft.

“Don’t go anywhere near him. He is as quick as anyone,” Lever said of Latrelle.

“And Kozzie has had a great pre-season so that;s been really exciting. He’s a 24-year-old guy who has signed a big contract but he’s doing some things now which are really special. He has Latrelle at the club and they are living together. It’s been amazing. Latrelle can do some pretty special things too.

“So it’s exciting. We have obviously had some really good drafts in the last three years. We ave had two early picks in all three years. Harvey Langford, Xavier Lindsay, Caleb Windsor, Koltyn Tholstrup, and they are all doing well so we are excited.”

I like Jake. Very interesting to talk to. . A very different cat 👍

Did anyone lazily read the bit about Simon Goodwin and thought it read "Lever still doesn't agree with the Simon Goodwin decision" (sacking)

A fit and firing Lever will make our defence far better this year. An outstanding reader of the play at his best.

And if May can start moving like a professional athlete on the field again (as opposed to the version we saw at times last year) then I can see the "old firm" leading our backline again for round 1. They only played 5 games together last year - one of them being the impressive Sydney win.

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by Bring-Back-Powell

If they both get into shape and get form this year, we are laughing.

I agreed with his dropping. Should have occurred earlier. Shouldn’t have stopped with him, few needed it who got comfortable and were significantly out of form.

Obviously there wouldn’t have been enough back ups. But would have sent one hell of a message.

still heaps of footy left in his career

needs a good run with injury

Still don’t like the mix of Turner and Lever in the same side, I’d have Disco ahead of him playing the 3rd tall/ intercept role. If that’s the way it goes, we’ll have Petty playing on the best forward every week.

5 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

Still don’t like the mix of Turner and Lever in the same side, I’d have Disco ahead of him playing the 3rd tall/ intercept role. If that’s the way it goes, we’ll have Petty playing on the best forward every week.

Steven May will play on the best oppo forward for much of the season

21 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Steven May will play on the best oppo forward for much of the season

So who are your three key defenders then?

25 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Steven May will play on the best oppo forward for much of the season

We’re not playing Petty May Lever and Turner in the same side so who of those other three fall out for May? The guy we told to find a new home three months ago

Jake at his best is a great interceptor. However unless he has learnt to actually defend one on one and improve his agility at ground level I worry he will constantly get burnt when our new attacking game style gets spun in the opposition direction.

To also not understand why he did not warrant games at the time he was dropped is also concerning to me. Whilst possibly due to no preseason and/pr mounting injuries his form at the time was putrid.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by Lil_red_fire_engine

Best thing about a new coach coming in, it just resets the place and there are no favourites being played.

All is just straight down the line, you don't like the way things are or how we are playing, the door is that way.

I feel good about this year regardless of the win or loss column.

Given the injuries that Jake was carrying he should have been rested (managed) rather than sent back to Casey. Plus the fact that he felt the need to contact the FD to confirm that he wasn’t on the table speaks volumes for confused messaging.

1 hour ago, Greg Schneider said:

So who are your three key defenders then?

our current three best talls petty turner tmac, Howes adams and Taylor to help out not much room for these two

Lever must have had some very soft post-match reviews if he was shocked at being dropped.

Hopefully a full preseason sets him up for a better crack at 2026, although I hope the emerging backmen go past him and May and set us up for 2027

6 hours ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

To also not understand why he did not warrant games at the time he was dropped is also concerning to me. Whilst possibly due to no preseason and/pr mounting injuries his form at the time was putrid.

I agree with this, but it strikes me that part of the reason he was shocked to be dropped was because other decision making processes throughout the years, perhaps lead him to think he wouldn’t be dropped, despite his from.