Adelaide Crows get their preferred deal for uncontracted defender Jake Lever in AFL trade with Melbourne

ADELAIDE defender Jake Lever is now a Demon with his trade to Melbourne – and Crows list manager Justin Reid says the deal is ‘a great outcome for us’.

Young defender Jake Lever has completed his move from Adelaide to Melbourne with a four-year deal worth almost $4 million. His trade was confirmed on Thursday morning. Picture: Sarah Reed.

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ADELAIDE has closed its unsavoury final chapter with uncontracted defender Jake Lever by trading the Victorian to Melbourne — at the Crows’ asking price.

Adelaide has scored the two first-round draft picks it wanted for the 21-year-old defender.

The Crows will get Melbourne’s first-round call (currently No. 10) in next month’s AFL national draft — and the Demons’ first-round pick next year.

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Adelaide and Melbourne also have shuffled other draft picks to close the deal.

Adelaide gets Melbourne’s fourth-round pick in 2018 in return for the Crows’ No. 35 pick of this season and third-round call next year.

In summary the deal reads:

ADELAIDE gets two first-round picks (one in each of the next two AFL national drafts) and a fourth-round pick next year from Melbourne.

MELBOURNE gets Lever, Adelaide’s No. 35 call in this year’s draft and the Crows’ third-round pick next year.

Lever, after three seasons and 56 games at Adelaide, gets a four-year deal at Melbourne worth almost $4 million.

Adelaide now has to consider Brisbane’s offers for contracted speedster Charlie Cameron. This could open the opportunity for the Crows to parcel up draft picks to trade into top-10 of next year’s player lottery that has enticing options with SA-based teenagers.

Crows list manager Justin Reid emphasised Adelaide achieved its target in the Lever trade.

“As soon as Jake requested a trade we were always looking to achieve the best possible deal and by bringing in two first-round picks we’ve got our desired result,” Reid said.

“First-round selections are highly sought after, so to receive two as part of this trade is a great outcome for us.

“We initially selected Jake with pick No. 14 in the 2014 national draft. To receive this year’s pick No.10 as well as a future first-round pick is a credit to the development program at our club.”

Reid made a gracious exit statement on Lever saying: “We wish Jake all the best for the rest of his career and thank him for his contribution over the past three years.”

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