As Jake Lever prepares to face his old side, which Crows defector have fans simply been unable to forgive?
THE broken bond of a grand final loss and a messy exit will make for a fierce and uncomfortable return bout with Adelaide for Jake Lever, says a retired star who’s been there. But is Lever the most unforgivable defector for Crows fans? Vote in our poll.
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THE broken bond of a grand final loss and his messy exit will make for a fierce and uncomfortable return bout with Adelaide for Jake Lever, says a retired AFL midfielder who’s been there.
Nick Dal Santo - who described his first game against St Kilda after 260 with them as the hardest of his career - said the hype surrounding facing your old side was not overstated by the media, it was real.
As Lever prepares for his first game against the Crows after accepting a big-money Victorian homecoming to Melbourne last year, Dal Santo said the only softening blow was the game is being played in Alice Springs and not Adelaide Oval in front of 50,000 screaming fans.
Lever’s defection last year added to a list of painful player exits from Adelaide in recent years that includes Charlie Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield, Kurt Tippett, Jack Gunston, Phil Davis and Nathan Bock who all walked out.
As part of the countdown to one of the most anticipated games of the season on Sunday, The Advertiser is asking Crows fans, ‘Which defector are they simply unable to forgive?’.
Dal Santo’s departure from St Kilda in 2013 was in very different circumstances to the Crows’ defectors given he wanted to remain a Saint after 260 games but was forced to look elsewhere and joined North Melbourne as a free agent.
But like Lever in the NT this weekend, Dal Santo came up against his old side for the first time away from their home base at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
“So at least with the game in Alice Springs it might just soften the blow a little bit for him,” Fox Footy’s Dal Santo said.
“As much as you’re going up against your old teammates which is the hard bit, at least there won’t be 40,000 mad Adelaide supporters there as well.
“Now that I work in the media we talk about it, that’s our job and we look for little stories within the game, but loyalty in AFL football hasn’t gone even with free agency because there is still a sense of mateship ... There is something there.
“Some people say they love playing against their mates, but I wasn’t looking forward to that at all.
“In all my games that was probably my most hated and I was glad it was Round 17 and in Tassie which softened it a little bit.
“I got no joy playing against my old teammates, and I know Jake is a lot younger but he still lost a grand final with them and then the way it played out.”
North Melbourne won that day by 59 points but Dal Santo said he didn’t want to have a big game to prove a point.
“This weekend might be different with Jake Lever’s situation. They’re both really competitive teams in a really good position, you’ve got to go as hard as you can at all times otherwise it could go either way,” he said.
Lever’s exit was messy largely because of his age and long-term potential but emotions were already running high after the disastrous grand final loss to Richmond.
His want to return to Victoria was valid but the elephant in the room was the reported $800,000 a year contract the Demons were offering.
Captain Taylor Walker didn’t hide his disappointment with Lever and according to Lever’s manager Alex McDonald the club suggested it was best he give the best-and-fairest night a miss.
The only departure that was messier at Adelaide was Kurt Tippett’s dramatic exit in 2012 after the preliminary final.
Not only did Adelaide receive nothing for the ruckman/forward who entered the pre-season draft, it was fined, copped draft sanctions and officials were banned for salary cap cheating.
Dangerfield’s exit in 2015 was as clean as it was predictable. He told the club secretly weeks before no one could question his commitment while he was there, winning the best-and-fairest on the way out.
Gunston’s request for a trade home after his regulation two-year deal was up not only blindsided the Crows but angered them so much they stripped him of its Mark Bickley Award, while Charlie Cameron still had a year to run on his contract when he cited the go-home factor to Queensland last year.
And there wasn’t much the Crows could do to keep Bock and Davis who both left to join the AFL’s expansion clubs Gold Coast and GWS who threw big money at them.
THE DEFECTORS
JAKE LEVER
Drafted: Pick No.14, 2014 national draft
Left: 2017
At what age: 21
Why: “I’ll be going back to Melbourne to be with family and friends. They’re (Melbourne) young, exciting, especially to watch and they’ve shown great interest in me.” - Jake Lever
For what: Two first-round draft picks and a fourth-round pick.
As a Crow: 56 games in three years, Rising Star and All-Australian nominee
As a Demon: 9 games in first season
CHARLIE CAMERON
Drafted: Pick No.7, 2014 rookie draft
Left: 2017
At what age: 23
Why: “I am from a remote community at Mornington Island and I want to be closer to there. I feel I can do something up there, contribute in some way, I wouldn’t mind doing stuff with young kids and being a role model.” - Charlie Cameron
For what: First round draft pick
As a Crow: 73 games in four years, Rising Star nominee
As a Lion: 9 games in his first season
PATRICK DANGERFIELD
Drafted: Pick No.10, 2007 national draft
Left: 2015
At what age: 25
Why: “I have got 100-odd Dangerfields and other relatives around the Geelong and Surf Coast area. It will be nice to surf and fish and then cruise into Geelong and play footy so there is a good work-life balance.” - Patrick Dangerfield
For what: First round draft pick, third round draft pick, and Dean Gore.
As a Crow: 154 games in eight years, club champion, three-time All-Australian, Rising Star nominee
As a Cat: 56 games in three seasons, Brownlow Medal, two-time All-Australian
JACK GUNSTON
Drafted: Pick No.29, 2009 national draft
Left: 2011
At what age: 19
Why: “Jack came and saw us on Thursday. He basically said he was homesick, that he was getting on a plane and going home in two hours and he didn’t want to come back.” - Phil Harper
For what: First round, second round and third round draft picks
As a Crow: 14 games in two years
As a Hawk: 144 games in seven years, three-time premiership player, two-time leading goal-kicker, three-time All-Australian nominee
KURT TIPPETT
Drafted: Pick No.32, 2006 national draft
Left: 2012
At what age: 25
Why: “This was a combined football/lifestyle decision and the balance between the two. I was born in Sydney, I have a lot of friends and family there, and this offers me a chance to play football in a lifestyle which I really enjoy.” - Kurt Tippett
For what: Nothing
As a Crow: 104 games in five years, leading goal-kicker, Rising Star nominee
As a Swan: 74 games in five years
PHIL DAVIS
Drafted: Pick No.10, 2008 national draft
Left: 2011
At what age: 21
Why: “I am not going to lie, money is a factor, but it’s not everything, football is the main thing for me. The opportunity to start a new franchise, the challenges that come with that and everything that is involved really drew me to it.”
For what: First round draft pick (compensation)
As a Crow: 18 games in two years
As a Giant: 121 games in seven years, captain, Rising Star nominee
NATHAN BOCK
Drafted: Pick No.25, 2002 rookie draft
Left: 2010
At what age: 27
Why: “It was a significant offer and something that I found was too hard to refuse.”
For what: First round draft pick (compensation)
As a Crow: 113 games in seven years, club champion, All-Australian
As a Sun: 27 games in three years
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Originally published as As Jake Lever prepares to face his old side, which Crows defector have fans simply been unable to forgive?
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