Moving? Lever no leaver just yet

JAKE Lever might be about to play his last game for Adelaide but says where he’s playing next year is the furthest thing from his mind as he sets about helping the Crows win a premiership.

Lever, who is out of contract next season and being sought by Victorian clubs including front-runner Melbourne to lure him home, said he was excited about sharing grand final day with his Adelaide teammates and family.

The 21-year-old broke his six-week media ban, which had him end his weekly spot on Adelaide radio last month, to speak to reporters at the AFL Grand Final parade in Melbourne.

“It’s Grand Final week, Grand Final parade right now and I’m just focused on winning a game of footy with the boys who I’ve been playing footy with all year,” Lever said.

“Absolutely it’s the furthest thing away [from my mind], I want to focus on Saturday and I’m really excited for that.

“My family and my partner’s family will be there [at the game] as well as my two best mates. I’m super excited. I’ll relax all afternoon and when it’s about 2pm tomorrow arvo I’ll start getting a little bit more excited.”

Lever is a first-round draft pick, taken by Adelaide with Pick No. 14 in the 2014 national draft, and has cemented himself as one of the best defenders and intercept markers in the game after just 55 games in three seasons.

Though it’s looking increasingly likely Lever will be the latest star to depart the Crows in recent years following Patrick Dangerfield, Jack Gunston, Phil Davis and Kurt Tippett, supporters may forgive him and Lever might go with a clear conscience if he leaves as a premiership player.