New Melbourne recruit Jake Lever is thrilled to be Demon, and already believes his trade away from Adelaide at the end of last season was a "great decision."
Lever played 56 games for the Crows over the past three seasons, and was a member of the Grand Final side that lost to Richmond in 2017.
Soon after, the 21-year-old requested a trade to Melbourne and moved to Victoria with two first-round picks going the other way, and Lever once again spoke about the role his family played in the decision.
โAbsolutely [it was the right call], I canโt explain how much of a great decision it has been not only for my football, but just the off-field side of things,โ Lever told the Herald Sun.
โI guess when you make the decision the family always come into play, but itโs your mates and partnerโs mates as well, as they donโt get to come over to Adelaide and see you like your family does.
โFor me, to be back around best mates and my group of mates, itโs so good just to be able to go out and get a feed together.โ
The young backman has to wait until Round 19 before coming up against his old side, although it's a match-up he's already looking forward to.
Lever is excited about going back to Adelaide Oval to take on the Crows, even if he's expecting a hostile reception from the crowd.
โItโs interesting when you come up against them, that will be the fun part,โ Lever said.
โIโm the type of person that I canโt wait for it. I have already pencilled it in, Round 19 over at Adelaide Oval.
โThe crowd will be a factor as well and, look, Iโm sure Iโm going to get lots of boos.
โItโs just part and parcel of the industry and I love a challenge and Iโm looking forward to playing on some of the guys I was close mates with.โ
Lever will hope his inclusion to Melbourne's backline will help them break their finals drought, with the Demons' last finals appearance coming in 2006.
He's only been training with the club for a few months, but Lever is already buoyant about Melbourne's chances this season.
โItโs been fantastic,โ Lever said.
โThere is such a talented group and some of the stuff that has been done at training you just almost have to shake your head and think you were dreaming, especially playing on the forwards and when you see the things they do sometimes.
โYou will be happy theyโre on your team on a Saturday afternoon at the MCG when hopefully they are doing the same things.โ
