Melbourne and Adelaide make progress on Jake Lever but Jack Watts could be forced to stay

MELBOURNE has made progress on a deal for Jake Lever but will not trade out Jack Watts unless the Demons receive adequate compensation.

MELBOURNE has made progress on a deal for Jake Lever but will not trade out Jack Watts unless the Demons receive adequate compensation.

The Crows have put a high price on Lever’s head, asking Melbourne for two first-round draft picks in exchange for the gun defender.

While the Demons would prefer to hand over their first and second-round selections, football manager Josh Mahoney said talks with the Crows were productive.

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“We met with Adelaide today and we did make some progress,” Mahoney said.

“We have both got the intent to get a deal done, which is positive, and hopefully we can do that in the next few weeks.”

Melbourne is also chasing Fremantle hard-nut Harley Balic and confirmed there was no chance of trading out contracted spearhead Jesse Hogan.

Melbourne hopes to bring Jack Lever in.

And trade Jack Watts out. Picture: Michael Klein

Watts, 26, has held discussions with Port Adelaide, Geelong and Sydney about a fresh start next season after he was encouraged by Melbourne to explore his trade options.

The Power are seen as the frontrunner to land the skilful playmaker, if Watts is happy to move his life and business interests interstate.

But Mahoney said the Demons would not proceed with the move unless they were satisfied with commensurate compensation.

The Demons are believed to want a first or second-round draft pick for the 153-gamer.

Port has pick No.29, Geelong picks No.20 and 33 and Sydney has pick No.31.

Mahoney said Watts could remain in red and blue if the deal did not stack up.

“Jack has been quite public that he has been speaking to other clubs, and we will a have a lot more conversations with clubs about what they could do,” Mahoney said.

“But realistically, Jack is still a chance to stay at Melbourne as well.

Josh Mahoney leads the Melbourne contingent into trade talks. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“That has been the conversation the whole way along, to look at his options.

“But he has got to come back and the trade has to be done, where the club, player and other club agree.”

Lever’s decision to leave the Crows has angered sections of Adelaide.

Lever’s father, Alan, revealed to the Herald Sun the defender was “devastated” that he was urged by the club to steer clear of the Crows’ best-and-fairest awards on Friday night.

The 21-year-old finished 11th in Malcolm Blight Medal voting and has already toured the Demons’ facilities over the weekend.

Adelaide list manager Justin Reid said the club would try and obey his trade request to Melbourne, but there were no guarantees.

“We’ve got good dialogue with Melbourne but we’ll just see where that gets to over the next fortnight,” Reid said.

“There’s still another nine clubs in Melbourne but we’re certainly having a chat with Melbourne at the moment.”

Adelaide speedster Charlie Cameron has requested a trade to Brisbane but Reid said the club wants him to stay next season.

“He is a required player for 2018,” Reid said.

Cameron is contracted for one more season.