Adelaide spoiled for riches at back

NO Jake Lever, no problem.

As good as the 2017 All-Australian nominee was for Adelaide — and promises to be for new club Melbourne — the Crows believe they have the cattle to cover the key defender’s loss next season.

In a credit to the club’s recruiting and succession planning, dual All-Australian defender Daniel Talia says 2015 first-round draftee Tom Doedee and former first-class cricketer Alex Keath are ready to step up to take intercept marking specialist Lever’s backline spot.

The 198cm Keath, 25, played six games this year, averaging 11 disposals and five marks while displaying good hands and poise under pressure.

Athletic former state junior basketballer Doedee, 20, has yet to make his AFL debut after being surprisingly taken at pick 17 two years ago.

But he had a standout SANFL campaign last season, finishing one vote behind now retired veteran Scott Thompson in Adelaide’s SANFL club champion award, averaging 17 disposals and ranking as the No.1 intercept player in the competition.

He is now ready to shine on the big stage, according to Talia, who, along with Kyle Hartigan, is a key defensive mainstay at Crowland.

“This is his first [AFL] preseason of getting out there and training continuously [from the start] and it’s been a credit to him because he’s really impressed and is a guy who has put his name up for that [Lever] spot,’’ Talia said of Doedee, who battled knee injuries in his first two preseasons at the club.

“If you watched the SANFL last season he’s a guy who almost plays like Lever because he intercepts the ball really well, he’s hard at it in the air and he can do some really special things.

“He’s also quite powerful, so he’s one of those guys who can play that third tall role.’’

Lever, who controversially quit Adelaide at 21 to join the Demons, is the Crows’ biggest off-season loss.