If Adelaide duo Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern don’t commit to the club, the Crows should make a stand and leave them out

INAUGURAL Crows coach Graham Cornes says the club needs to take a stand against players such as Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern who are yet to commit to the cause.

LOVE OR LEAVE: Adelaide young guns Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern are yet to commit to the Crows beyond this season. Picture: AAP/Mike Burton

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NOTHING destroys a love affair more than deception and infidelity. Make no mistake, football fans do fall in love with the players in their team.

Maybe it’s not a romantic love but it’s a unique affection of appreciation and belonging. And it’s passionate. The only way the players can return that passion is with their loyalty to the club and by performing.

Crows star Jake Lever took a further step to severing his relationship with his growing legion of Adelaide fans this week, when he abruptly terminated his regular FIVE aa segment with Stephen Rowe and Mark Bickley. That’s one way of handling the controversy.

“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies”.

It may be a cute line from an old song, but it’s also an effective strategy to avoid awkward questions. And Crows fans have plenty of awkward questions to ask of Lever and that other young star at the other end of the ground, Mitch McGovern.

The players and the club may attempt to deflect those questions and coach Don Pyke might indeed be sick of the speculation but there’s two ways it will end – either the players re-sign and commit, or announce that they are leaving.

There is another option which the club needs to seriously consider. If those two players are going to continue to torment the affections of the Adelaide fans, tell them it’s over. There is a premiership an offer here and if you are not going to commit to this club, this team and the coaching staff that has given you one of life’s great opportunities you don’t deserve to be a part of it. If they don’t sign they should not have the opportunity to share football’s greatest prize. As dual Crows premiership player, Shane Ellen said earlier this week: money can’t buy you a premiership medallion nor the lifelong memories and friendships that come with it.

We watched last week as Lever and McGovern showed their potential and their class against Sydney. The Crows may be on top of the ladder but Sydney is the form team. Of the 18 teams it also plays the toughest, most defensive game and will be the hardest to beat in September.

Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern at training. Picture: Sarah Reed

But against the overwhelming supply from the Sydney midfield Lever stood tall, throwing himself at every contest and repelling Sydney attacks with fierce spoils and old-fashioned straight-ahead football. At the other end of the ground McGovern was a lone hand in the forward line. While his team-mates fumbled and wasted their disposals, McGovern was efficient – and exciting. We loved them and both players would seem to be vital to Adelaide’s chances in September however there is a greater principle at stake here.

Great players have missed grand final teams before - through injury or suspension – and their teams have still won. Ironically, Lever and McGovern as good as they are now, are not yet great players and the Crows have played and won without them throughout the course of this season. Other players desperate to play and fiercely loyal to the club have done the job and would jump at the chance of September action.

Besides, it’s time the Adelaide Football Club made a statement. In the past it has been treated almost with contempt as players had their way with it – either holding it to ransom or walking out, whether they were contracted or not.

Regardless of Sunday’s result in Perth, the Crows will never have a better chance of winning a premiership. However, it is not guaranteed. Nor is the loyalty of Lever and McGovern. Do not gift them the opportunity of that premiership. Put every other young player, current or future, on notice. It’s better to go into a finals’ campaign with all players totally committed to the club and its fans than with two who are going to walk out after the final siren sounds.

Love us or leave us now!