Calder Cannons defender Jake Lever dreaming of Round 1 AFL debut after overcoming serious knee injury

AFTER a serious knee injury robbed him of a 2014 TAC Cup season, Jake Lever is intent on playing in the opening round of next year’s AFL season.

Calder Cannons draft prospect Jake Lever at his former junior club Romsey, Picture: Paul Loughnan

JAKE Lever had the world at his feet.

Defensively, there were few better options for the 2014 National Draft.

Even 12 months out, as Lever attended an AIS-AFL Academy camp on the Gold Coast, most recruiters knew the Romsey junior was going to be something special.

Then fate intervened.

A serious knee injury suffered in an innocuous incident ruled Lever out of the entire TAC Cup season, leaving the key defender to spend most of the year in rehabilitation.

It was a cruel twist for a young footballer closing in on his AFL dream, but one that has enabled him to mature remarkably in the past 12 months.

“It’s been a big learning curve for me, just how much I appreciate playing,” Lever said. “I just can’t wait to get back out there.”

Lever last played in the 2013 TAC Cup preliminary final, having built a strong draft portfolio over a season in which he captained Vic Metro at the Under-18 National Championships.

Most would expect the 18-year-old to re-enter football the same way his 2013 campaign finished — as a defender.

But some of the 17 AFL clubs he has met with have told the agile tall to consider the possibility of a career as a midfielder at the elite level.

“I do have the capability of playing a key position,” he said. “But a lot of clubs that have been interested in me have seen me potentially playing midfield.

“That’s something that I wanted to do for the Calder Cannons this year.

“If I get to an AFL club and they express that they want to play me as a midfielder, I’m up for that challenge and I think I have the attributes of one anyway.”

Lever in action during the 2013 TAC Cup season. Picture: Sarah Matray.

Lever said he had desires to return to the field as early as the opening round of the 2015 AFL season.

“I’m not going to go into a club and think I’m not going to be able to play Round 1, because I might as well have been drafted next year or the year after,” he said.

Speaking to Lever, you get the impression he would be just as happy to pull on the boots at Romsey Park next year as he would to grace the MCG or Etihad Stadium.

Simply, he just wants to play football again.

“I just can’t wait to get out there, not only playing, but just on the training track with everyone,” he said.

“Hopefully I walk into an AFL club ready for a big pre-season and if I get on to an AFL list, do really well.”

Lever realises the questions about his knee are inevitable, as they have been for most of 2014.

But if he fulfils the promise those at Calder see in him, it won’t be long before he is able to start talking football again.

“I’m just really looking forward to being known for the kid that’s actually playing instead of sitting on the sidelines doing his rehab,” he said.

“That’s probably the most exciting thing, as well as hopefully getting on an AFL list.”

Lever is one of three Cannons invited to the Gold Coast for the draft, along with Paul Ahern and Peter Wright.

The invite puts him in the frame to be a top-10 selection, with Melbourne, Greater Western Sydney and Geelong all known to be interested.