Adelaide Crows should learn from Port Adelaide’s mistake in the 2003 trade period as Jake Lever demands deal with Melbourne

JAKE Lever will get to Melbourne one way or another – and the Adelaide Crows cannot ignore this reality, writes Michelangelo Rucci.

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HERE we go again. This time it is Adelaide talking tough on how it will dictate young defender Jake Lever’s go-home trade to Melbourne.

The message is clear from West Lakes. Adelaide will decide which of “10 clubs in Victoria” scores Lever as its new man in defence. And if the Crows are not satisfied, Lever can try his luck in the draft.

It is a throwback to 2003 when Port Adelaide stood firm on midfielder Nick Stevens as the Victorian sought to be traded to Collingwood. The Power did not budge on its asking price, forcing Stevens to nominate for the draft — and return home to Carlton and never achieve his dream of being a Magpies player.

Port Adelaide gained nothing once Stevens nominated for the draft and walked freely to Princes Park. Even the supposed feel-good “principle” the Power established by making a point did not last long at Alberton with Port Adelaide ultimately regretting its dogmatic stand on Stevens.

Port Adelaide’s Nick Stevens got caught up in trade politics and ended up at Carlton instead of his desired destination Collingwood.

Crows player Jake Lever wants to head to Melbourne. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

Adelaide needs to talk tough to appease a supporter base that already is edgy after the grand final loss at the weekend — and tried of the trend of much-wanted players clearing their lockers at West Lakes.

But the Crows also have to be realistic. Player power rules more than in 2003 in favour of Lever today.

Lever has the final say on his trade. Adelaide could work a trade with the other major bidder, Collingwood for the 21-year-old defender, but it is Lever who must sign the paperwork too.

And Lever — unlike Stevens — has very little to fear in the draft, despite Collingwood having (for now) earlier picks than the Demons (No. 6 compared with No. 10 as first calls in the November draft).

Once Lever declares his salary requirements — with that four-year, $3.6 million offer from Melbourne — the game is done. His passage to the Demons would be secure in the draft ... and the Crows, like Port Adelaide in 2003, can say they stood on a principle.

But what does it prove?

Adelaide has every right to ask for top-shelf compensation from Melbourne for losing a first-round draft pick who spent just three years at West Lakes and played only 56 games. The Crows can certainly work Collingwood into the bidding game to reinforce to the Demons how Lever is valued in the market.

But Adelaide cannot repeat the mistake Port Adelaide made in 2003 in putting pride before reality.

Jake Lever scraps with Richmond’s Dion Prestia during the Grand Final The Crow has been engaged in an arm wrestle with the Crows over his future and on Tuesday announced his desire to leave. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

Lever’s exit from West Lakes already is messy. The Crows are painting Lever as a money-grabbing player. But who would turn down such a rich offer from Melbourne? Lever’s manager Ned Guy is not impressed with Adelaide’s public tone.

And in this environment it is only a matter of time before the lid is lifted on how Lever’s last month at West Lakes unfolded. His declaration — in August or early September — to the Crows that he would leave the club apparently was met with dismay from the senior Adelaide players.

They may have even called on coach Don Pyke to not play Lever in the finals.

Pyke showed greater maturity. And the Crows list management team might need to be just as pragmatic on Lever’s passage to Melbourne.

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