Jake Lever has officially been traded to Melbourne, with a deal being finalised this morning.
Adelaide traded the key defender to the Demons, in exchange for pick No.10, and 2018 first-round and fourth-round picks.
The Crows have also traded pick No.35 and a 2018 third-round pick as part of the deal.
Lever requested trade to Melbourne came just days after the Crows’ grand final loss to Richmond.
The AFL reported the news via Twitter.
BREAKING: Adelaide will receive pick No. 10, a future first-round selection and future fourth-round selection for Jake Lever.
— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) October 11, 2017
The trade had progressed quickly, with general manager of football operations Josh Mahoney telling melbournefc.com.au: “We’re very happy to complete the deal today with the Adelaide Crows to secure Jake Lever.”
Mahoney is hoping that he will be a long-term player at Melbourne, and a key part of the club’s future.
“Jake will have an immediate impact on our group – on field as an important member of our defence, but also off the field with his professionalism and competitiveness,” Mahoney said.
It appears that he will fit into the Demon’s backline quite easily, alongside Oscar McDonald and Sam Frost.
Lever, 21, played 56 games in his three seasons with Adelaide, and averaged the most intercept marks in the AFL this season – 3.8 per game.
He was named in the initial 40-man All Australian squad, but was unlucky to miss out on a spot in the final team.
Crows skipper Taylor Walker said he felt that by joining the Demons, Lever had chosen “money over success”, following his no-show at the Crows’ best and fairest night last week.
Originally from Romsey, north of Melbourne, Lever was drafted at pick No.14 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.
He made his debut for the Crows in 2015 and gained a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination that same year.
Lever averaged 10.3 kicks, 6.3 marks and 5.9 handballs from 17 games in 2017.
Here is your first look at Jake Lever in a Demons guernsey.
Done deal! Jake Lever is off to @melbournefc.
Full details: https://t.co/VNiIyCE2vo pic.twitter.com/94ko4uEITg
— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) October 11, 2017
In other trade news, Essendon have secured the services of Devon Smith, offering GWS pick No.11 and a 2018 third-round pick for the forward.
As part of the deal, the Giants have also given the Bombers pick No.24 and a 2018 second-round pick.
Smith, 24, kicked 100 goals in 109 games for the Giants, and had nominated the Bombers as his preferred destination.
The deal has proved to be a big win for the Giants, who did not have a first-round pick at this year’s draft until now.
Smith signed a four-year deal to join Essendon, reported by The Age.
