Lever deal done

Jake Lever is officially a Melbourne Demon.

The Crows will get pick number 10, a 2018 first-round selection and a 2018 fourth-round selection from the Demons and send Lever, pick number 35 and a 2018 third-round selection to Melbourne.

After months of speculation and negotiations between the Dees and Adelaide, Lever has finally found his way to his preferred destination.

The road to get Lever to the Demons has been a messy one.

Last week, Crows captain Taylor Walker told South Australian radio that Lever would be “choosing money over success” if he want to Melbourne. Furthermore, Adelaide CEO Andrew Fagan told SEN he was “super confident” the defender’s move “was about money.” Despite the strong words, though, Lever has still found his way to his preferred destination.

If you want to equate Lever trade to draft points table – based on Dees finishing 6th, Crows 4th in 2018. #TradeSENtral pic.twitter.com/jkQjIbtjEQ

— Brett Anderson (@BAndersonSEN) October 11, 2017

Melbourne General Manager of Football Operations Josh Mahoney has expressed his satisfaction with the deal.

"We’re very happy to complete the deal today with the Adelaide Crows to secure Jake Lever," he told the Melbourne website.

"Jake has been a player we’ve targeted as a priority during this trade period and this is a great outcome for us.

"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.

“With 56 games to his name, we see Jake as a long-term player at the Melbourne footy club.

“Given our position in the draft and the quality of the draft, this deal was always going to have to involve multiple picks and swaps.

“With our position in the draft, which is mid to late first round picks, we were willing to trade pick number 10 and a future first round selection to add someone with such value as Jake.

“We were willing to do this under the proviso we had some picks coming back, which we gained and will help our position in the draft this year.

“To get a second round pick back is a good result, as we now have picks number 27, number 35 and number 45 in this year’s draft and we’re confident our recruiters will be able to find good players, as they have shown in previous drafts.”

Lever joins a Melbourne defence that finished 9th in points conceded in 2017. He will partner with fellow intercept expert Michael Hibberd to complement shutdown defenders Tom and Oscar McDonald, along with the rebounding Jayden Hunt.

The Crows have historically put a high price on their players, and have achieved their goal in getting two first round selections for Lever.

The 21-year-old finished first in the AFL for intercept possessions per game this season, showcasing his capacity to read the play and pounce in aerial contests.