Sam Jacobs says he will go easy on Jake Lever — but he can’t guarantee his teammates will

JAKE Lever can expect a hostile reception from some of his former Crows teammates in Alice Springs — but it won’t be from “good mate’’ Sam Jacobs.

Jake Lever in action for the Demons against St Kilda this season. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

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JAKE Lever can expect a fiery reunion with his former Crows teammates in Alice Springs but it won’t be from “good mate’’ Sam Jacobs.

Adelaide’s No. 1 ruckman says he has no issue with Lever quitting the club to join Melbourne at the end of last season to accept a mega four-year contract from Melbourne, understood to be worth about $800,000 a year.

But Jacobs said he cannot speak for his teammates and whether they will try to rough up the 22-year-old key defender when he makes his first appearance against the club that gave him his AFL start on Sunday.

Jake Lever and Sam Jacobs as teammates during last year’s AFL Grand Final. They will meet again as opponents in Alice Springs on Sunday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“It will be different and different for him playing against his former side,’’ Jacobs said of one of the most anticipated match-ups of the season.

“Jake is one of my good mates but (how he is treated) is an individual thing. Some blokes might (have a crack at him) but I’ll be worrying about my battle with ‘Maxy' (Gawn).’’

Lever’s decision to walk out on Adelaide at age 21 — he turned 22 in March — did not sit well with many of his teammates, with captain Taylor Walker publicly declaring that he chose “money over success’’.

Lever, who spent three years at Adelaide after being selected at pick 14 at the 2014 national draft coming off a knee reconstruction, copped so much public criticism that he deleted his Twitter account.

Jacobs said he was “comfortable’’ with Lever’s decision.

“I can’t speak on behalf of our club but it’s just the landscape that footy is, all sports are like it now, so for me, it’s his decision and I’m sure he’s probably happy with it,” Jacobs said.

“He’s not the only person to leave a club, we’ve had a couple of guys come here as well.

“Charlie Cameron decided to leave to go to Brisbane, we got Bryce (Gibbs) in (from Carlton) and Sam Gibson (from North Melbourne).

“He (Lever) has made the decision and he’s probably comfortable with it at the moment because Melbourne is tracking pretty well.’’

Melbourne’s Jake Lever flies over Carlton’s Zac Fisher during their thumping 109-point win on Sunday. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

Jacobs said Lever’s controversial departure had opened the door for 21-year-old intercept defender Tom Doedee to debut in his third year on the Crows’ list and star in the backline.

“I was comfortable that players, like Tom Doedee, we had were going to step up, that we were happy we were going to cover him and that’s the way it’s panned out,’’ Jacobs said.

“From that point of view, it’s fantastic, that the spot he left has created those opportunities to see those guys come in and play some really strong footy.’’

Former basketballer Doedee was a surprise first-round draft pick in 2015 when the Crows took a punt on the Victorian at pick 17.

“He’s been unreal,” Jacobs said.

“I’m a bit old school, I love the fact he’s done his time in the SANFL, he came second in our best and fairest in the SANFL last year and he led the League in intercept marks, so he was ready to go in terms of doing his time.

“He’s a really hardworking player and I think it’s been a pretty seamless transition. He’s played some fantastic footy and he’s going to be a good player for a long time.”

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