Jake Lever - it's good to get a feed with mates

[Happy_Neale]

Source.

“I can’t explain how much of a great decision it has been not only for my football, but just the off-field side of things”

“I guess when you make the decision the family always come into play, but it’s your mates and partner’s mates as well, as they don’t get to come over to Adelaide and see you like your family does.

“For me, to be back around best mates and my group of mates, it’s so good just to be able to go out and get a feed together.”

Is this for real? In a truly national competition, are we accepting this as a legitimate reason for walking out on a club willing to pay him $500k+ per season after only two years? To me this highlights the need for either a longer rookie contract or compensation for first round picks recruited from interstate. How ridiculous. At least Blighty knows it is nonsense.

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

No doubt everything he's saying is true.

He just left out "the extra $350,000 per year helps too"

 

[jenny61_99]

Source.



Is this for real? In a truly national competition, are we accepting this as a legitimate reason for walking out on a club willing to pay him $500k+ per season after only two years? To me this highlights the need for either a longer rookie contract or compensation for first round picks recruited from interstate. How ridiculous. At least Blighty knows it is nonsense.

Apparently you can't go out and eat in Adelaide. Apparently he didn't have any mates. Not surprising he left, really.

 

[boncer34]

Apparently you can't go out and eat in Adelaide. Apparently he didn't have any mates. Not surprising he left, really.

Good to see Crows fans taking it well

 

[Proper Gander]

This will end well

 

[Beer n Skittles]

21 year old likes hanging out with his mates. More news at 6

 

[jenny61_99]

Good to see Crows fans taking it well

Very disappointed in the lad after he point blank told us that he wanted to stay (at a function up here). I don't get why players aren't just honest about it. Tell us the opportunity is too good to pass up, don't crap on about wanting to be closer to family! It's a bloody hour and a half flight away FFS! After claiming wanting to be a one club player when he was drafted by us, and that he wanted to repay our faith in him... to then turn around and do that as soon as his contract is up for renewal... he can go and get ****ed.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Very disappointed in the lad after he point blank told us that he wanted to stay (at a function up here). I don't get why players aren't just honest about it. Tell us the opportunity is too good to pass up, don't crap on about wanting to be closer to family! It's a bloody hour and a half flight away FFS! After claiming wanting to be a one club player when he was drafted by us, and that he wanted to repay our faith in him... to then turn around and do that as soon as his contract is up for renewal... he can go and get ******.

You can't just go jump on a plane after training and get one back the next day before training again.

It's pretty much legitimises his decision. He is more happy now then he was. I do hate to see it though and would respect him a hell of a lot more if just came and said that the money was also way to hard not to take

 

[Milanista28]

Wonder what he orders when he goes out for a "feed".

 

[Jaeger]

He seems like a weird bloke. Can play though.

 

[Trav 20]

Source.



Is this for real? In a truly national competition, are we accepting this as a legitimate reason for walking out on a club willing to pay him $500k+ per season after only two years? To me this highlights the need for either a longer rookie contract or compensation for first round picks recruited from interstate. How ridiculous. At least Blighty knows it is nonsense.

He was there for 3 years and played 56 games.

Why don't you list all of the players that have left the club that drafted them to go home after 3-4 years ? Lever is hardly an outlier.

I'll start. Scott Thompson, who left the Melbourne Football Club for the Adelaide Football Club after 4 years and 39 games.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Person chooses to be near family and friends... wow what a shock.

Football doesn't define someone, it is just their chosen occupation.

 

[boncer34]

Wonder what he orders when he goes out for a "feed".

Seems like a Caesar salad kind of guy

 

[jenny61_99]

You can't just go jump on a plane after training and get one back the next day before training again.

It's pretty much legitimises his decision. He is more happy now then he was. I do hate to see it though and would respect him a hell of a lot more if just came and said that the money was also way to hard not to take

Yep, that's all they have to do. Every second week just about is in Melbourne... surely they can catch up with mates and family then? (Actually I know they do). Just tell us the money was too good to pass up. Most supporters would get that. Stop the bullshit. Just come out and say "I am not looking at my contract until the end of the season, when I will weigh up all my options and take the best offer for me".

 

[Happy_Neale]

He was there for 3 years and played 56 games.

Why don't you list all of the players that have left the club that drafted them to go home after 3-4 years ? Lever is hardly an outlier.

I'll start. Scott Thompson, who left the Melbourne Football Club for the Adelaide Football Club after 4 years and 39 games.

Like Jared Polec who left after three years to be near his family in Adelaide, yet would only accept a trade to Port?

 

[Happy_Neale]

It’ll be interesting to see the replies here. My guess it will be mostly those supporting Vic clubs who will be claiming there is nothing wrong with this whilst simultaneously arguing the academies are damaging the integrity and fairness of the competition.

 

[AFLOnline]

Person chooses to be near family and friends... wow what a shock.

Football doesn't define someone, it is just their chosen occupation.

Exactly, and for some that's all it is.. It's not a passion nor a recreational hobby.

And why wouldn't you want an occupation close to home unless the incentives were so great you couldn't say no to living interstate?

 

[jenny61_99]

Like Jared Polec who left after three years to be near his family in Adelaide, yet would only accept a trade to Port?

Yep. I think if they need to go home (for whatever reason) a request for a trade to the home State can be made, but the originating Club HAS to be able to negotiate the best outcome for both of them. Saying you'll only go to THIS club is pretty much crippling to the original club and, also gives the player Free Agency benefits when they haven't earned them.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Exactly, and for some that's all it is.. It's not a passion nor a recreational hobby.

I really think this a red herring. There is no way someone could go through the rigours of youth footy, multiple AFL pre-seasons and the gruelling training schedules without having a passion for playing the game. Those who don’t would get found out pretty soon I would imagine.

 

[Milanista28]

Seems like a Caesar salad kind of guy

Maybe a nice antipasto or cheese platter with a glass of red as well on the right occasion.

 

[Tulip]

This seems like the exact kind of reason to come home. Who wouldn’t want to be around their friends and family? Footy isn’t everything and he’s being paid a hell of a lot more to play it here as well.

 

[Tulip]

It’ll be interesting to see the replies here. My guess it will be mostly those supporting Vic clubs who will be claiming there is nothing wrong with this whilst simultaneously arguing the academies are damaging the integrity and fairness of the competition.

We gave them two first round picks, both likely higher than the pick 14 they paid for him.

 

[manureid]

Like Jared Polec who left after three years to be near his family in Adelaide, yet would only accept a trade to Port?

What was his other option? The club Jake Lever didn't want to be at?

 

[Happy_Neale]

This seems like the exact kind of reason to come home. Who wouldn’t want to be around their friends and family? Footy isn’t everything and he’s being paid a hell of a lot more to play it here as well.

Hence the reason for the academies in non-traditional states, yet the uproar about those far outweigh the attention on draftees returning to Victoria.

 

[Happy_Neale]

We gave them two first round picks, both likely higher than the pick 14 they paid for him.

You got back a second and third rounder as well to be fair. The trade in question was not unreasonable in what Melbourne paid.