Taylor Walker ‘furious and aggressive’ in phone call with departing Crow Jake Lever
ADELAIDE captain Taylor Walker hasn’t held back after Jake Lever’s trade request to Melbourne with the Demons revealing what they’re prepared to pay for the defender.
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ADELAIDE captain Taylor Walker is “furious” after Jake Lever’s trade request.
Lever - the highly sought-after intercept defender - requested a trade to Melbourne on Tuesday after just three years with the Crows.
The Demons have offered a lucrative four-year deal.
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Melbourne great Garry Lyon said Walker was furious with Lever for leaving the club.
“From what I am hearing ... Tex Walker as the captain of the footy club is furious and let him (Lever) know in no uncertain manner,” Lyon told SEN.
“I’m told it was very aggressive.
“We play in this system that allows you to make decisions. You’re not bound to play forever at one team. You’ve got options and you’ve got alternatives. When you’re a player who has travelled from interstate to play somewhere else, then obviously at some stage the pull to come home is going to be real or otherwise. For Jake it is real.
“I’m sure the Adelaide footy club are peed off about it.”
The Herald Sun revealed in June that Lever was Melbourne’s top priority in this year’s exchange period, starting Monday.
Melbourne football boss Josh Mahoney revealed what the Demons were willing to offer the Crows
“About a month ago, we knew Jake was looking to return to Victoria but it was only on Monday that we got the phone call. He’s only played about 50 games but we think he plays with a lot more maturity,” he told SEN.
“We’d expect a first and future second round draft pick would be a reasonable offer for Jake.”
Collingwood is also keen on Lever and is willing to part with pick No.6 to secure the intercept king.
Early negotiations have reportedly broke down between the Crows and Demons but Lever’s manager says the young gun will only play for the Demons in 2018.
Lever said he would go into the draft he a deal couldn’t be struck with a price of $750,000 a season on his head.
“I’ll be going back to Melbourne to be with my family and friends. I’ve nominated the Melbourne Football Club (as preferred new home),” he told Channel 7.
“They’re young, they’re exciting, especially to watch and they’ve shown great interest in me.
“For myself and my partner, just being around our family and eventually in the near future I’d think I’d like to start my own family.”
Originally published as Taylor Walker ‘furious and aggressive’ in phone call with departing Crow Jake Lever
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