Star recruit Jordan Lewis is spreading Hawthorn gospel at his new club Melbourne

JORDAN Lewis has told some of his new Melbourne teammates that accepting less money will help the club break the game’s longest premiership drought.

Jordan Lewis is spreading Hawthorn gospel at his new club Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

JORDAN Lewis has told some of his new Melbourne teammates that accepting less money will help the club break the game’s longest premiership drought.

Lewis is a believer in former coach Alastair Clarkson’s salary sacrifice model and is spreading the Hawthorn gospel at the Demons.

In a sign of the strong leadership Melbourne recruited by signing Lewis, 31, last year, the Herald Sun understands he recently discussed the financial model with some teammates.

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The Demons have not played finals since 2006 and are searching for their first premiership since 1964 — 53 years ago.

The selfless Hawks approach allowed the club to pick off stars from rival clubs during their golden 2013-2015 run of flags.

Jordan Lewis and Jarryd Roughead embrace after playing against each other for the first time. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“That was (Clarkson’s) big selling point to a lot of the older guys — take less money (and) stay as a group,” Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge said.

“He said that multiple times. He said you’re not going to get the financial riches for it right now, but if you can finish your career as a two, three or four-time premiership player, that is going to reward you post your career for the next 30 years.

“So you might not get it in one lump sum as a player, but that’s going to help you when your footy career finishes.

“Everyone bought into it and that’s why so many blokes stayed for less money.”

The Demons aren’t believed to be under salary cap strain and the imminent boost to player wages under the new collective bargaining agreement will help them keep their talented list together.

Under new coach Simon Goodwin, the Dees enjoyed a coming-of-age win on Saturday night as they stunned ladder-leader Adelaide by 41 points.

Former coach Paul Roos — who watched on his mobile phone at the airport — declared the victory “a big moment” for the club.

The Adelaide Oval victory was even more impressive given it came one day after Demon players were told about Jesse Hogan’s fight with testicular cancer.

Hogan’s future became a circus last year and while the West Australian re-signed, he comes out of contract again in 2019.

Melbourne enters Sunday’s MCG clash against North Melbourne on a 15-game losing streak against the Roos.

The last time the Dees beat North was on the back of David Neitz’s eight goals in 2006.

Hawthorn players accepted pay cuts on the back of the Geelong model after the Cats won three flags in five years.

Jesse Hogan is battling testicular cancer. Picture: AAP Images

“(It allowed us) to bring in some more people that we need; we brought in Chip Frawley for a flag, Ben McEvoy came across to play in two,” Hodge told Triple M recently.

Western Bulldogs star Lachie Hunter told the Herald Sun after he signed a three-year deal last year that the Dogs’ retention strategy was built around team success.

“Money, ­although it’s still relevant, is just not as much of a factor as how much you’ll enjoy your time,” Hunter said before the Dogs broke their 62-year flag drought.

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2018

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2019

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Jesse Hogan

Jack Watts

2020

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Originally published as Star recruit Jordan Lewis is spreading Hawthorn gospel at his new club Melbourne