Melbourne defender Jake Lever looking forward to trying to claim Adelaide scalp

HIS departure from the Crows didn’t go down well and a former teammate took a potshot just weeks ago. But Jake Lever and the Demons are now in form, and intent on claiming Adelaide as a scalp next week.

Jake Lever is back to his best. Pic: AAP

JAKE Lever says Melbourne is ready to take the scalp of contender Adelaide as he prepares for his first game against his old side.

The Demons used Carlton as a plaything in a 109-point MCG victory, their biggest winning margin since they beat Richmond by 121 points in Round 21, 1993.

It was also the club’s greatest winning margin of all time over Carlton in a rivalry dating back to June, 1897.

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Adelaide shapes as the perfect test of their progress after beating North Melbourne and five bottom six sides in their march up the ladder.

The former Crows defender has been publicly criticised by his former captain Taylor Walker and key defender Daniel Talia, who said replacement Tom Doedee was in better form.

Jake Lever played arguably his best game for the Dees against Carlton. Pic: AAP

Lever admits he has been looking forward to the clash, adamant he is still great mates with many of the players who have cheekily criticised him.

Melbourne’s win came with Clayton Oliver playing with a surgically repaired finger and Jack Viney getting through the clash on his return from foot issues.

But Lever knows much of the publicity will be about him after Walker suggested he was a mercenary, saying he had chosen “money over success”.

He can’t wait to take on the Crows, agreeing they were a potential scalp for a Demons side that has been building with four successive wins.

“Yeah, definitely. We spoke about it then, we will shift our focus to Adelaide. They are a fantastic footy team,’” he said.

“For us to hopefully go up there (to Alice Springs) and win would be a huge step forward for our footy club.

“They boys are ready to really take a step forward and hopefully compete against a really quality side.”

Off all social media in recent months given a barrage of criticism, Lever didn’t even hear Talia’s comment that Doedee had perfectly filled the hole left by him.

“As you know I am off Twitter, so I didn’t see it until Gawny told me the next day he had done it,” he said.

“Things get said in the media and he just said it, unfortunately I won’t see him unless I go forward.

Lever and the Demons face a big challenge next week. Pic: Getty Images

“But I have still got some of my best mates playing for Adelaide.

“It was never going to ruin any friendships, I knew it was a going to be a bit hasty at the start, but they are my mates and when they come over to Melbourne I still catch up with them.

“I always knew it would come around pretty quickly and it’s finally here. I am trying not to change too much, it’s just another game of footy in the end.”

Lever says his spare time away from social media has been spent turning half an hour walking his dog into 90 minutes, laughing as he listens to Hamish and Andy podcasts walking down the street.

Simon Goodwin was thrilled with Jack Viney’s 12 possession, one-goal return and Oliver’s bravery.

“It hasn’t been well documented, (Oliver) broke his finger last week and had an operation on Monday and he got up for this week’s game.

“Credit to Clayton to have that procedure done and still play, you wouldn’t have noticed with Clayton he had an operation. He was keen to not just play, but play well.”

Uncontracted free agent Tom McDonald with four goals and several goal assists, Goodwin happy he wants to stay at the club despite no signature yet.

“I think it’s terrific. He is a great Melbourne person and he has been at this club for a long time,” he said.

“So he’s been through some of the tougher times but there is still a lot of work to be done. To have that person at your footy club who wants to be part of it is important to us.”

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Originally published as Melbourne defender Jake Lever looking forward to trying to claim Adelaide scalp