Money not a lever for Jake
AFL million-dollar-defenderin-waiting Jake Lever has indicated cash won’t shape his decision on where he plays in 2018, and says the delay in his contract talks with Adelaide should not be cause for alarm at West Lakes.
Lever, heir to Richmond’s Alex Rance as the league’s premier key defender and intercept king – has an approximate market value of $800,000 a year.
Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Hawthorn are understood to be lining up with five-year deals.
Lever says no negotiations will be ramped up until manager Ned Guy returns from holidays and is in “no hurry” to commit to the Crows, who selected the 195cm defender with pick 14 at the 2014 national draft.
Not signing by finals eve shouldn’t spook Crows fans who have seen stars Patrick Dangerfield, Kurt Tippett and Jack Gunston leave in recent years.
“Don’t believe all the stats,” said Lever in relation to players leaving clubs when not signed by Round 18.
Melbourne legend Garry Lyon rates Lever a $1 million commodity. Adding the 21year-old would arguably launch the Demons to frontline premiership favouritism in 2018.
Adelaide list manager Justin Reid is under pressure to find salary cap space to allow him to pay the defender’s price but Lever says it will be a two way discussion.
Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker refrained from pursuing a pay increase in committing to the club until 2021 in the hope off-contract pair Mitch McGovern and Lever can be retained at West Lakes.
“I don’t think it is that. We just have to work through a few things and the big thing is when my manager gets back we will be able to talk,” Lever told Radio FiveAA.
Whether Lever leaves or remains at West Lakes, he’s indebted to 308-game club stalwart and locker neighbour Scott Thompson, who will retire at season’s end.
“I was privileged to sit next to him nearly every day since I have been here. He is such a loveable character. You look at his preparation and the way he attacks training,” said Lever.
“He has played 308 games and I have played 40, so (I’m) just amazed at how resilient he has been.”