Adelaide Crows captain Taylor Walker backs Crows culture to hold out-of-contract duo Mitch McGovern and Jake Lever

ADELAIDE Crows captain Taylor Walker has taken exception to Wayne Carey’s criticism of the club’s pay methods as the heat increases in the bidding for Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern.

Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak, left, and Adelaide captain Taylor Walker with the Showdown trophy at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

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CROWS captain Taylor Walker is still backing the Adelaide Football Club’s culture to thwart the increasing bidding game for out-of-contract pair Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern.

Walker appeared taken aback on Wednesday by reports defender Lever has personally met with Melbourne Football Club officials and players as he considered the attractive offers from four Melbourne-based clubs in his home state of Victoria.

Mitch McGovern of the Crows signs autographs at Goodwood Primary School on Tuesday. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

And Walker had a crack at North Melbourne premiership hero Wayne Carey for suggesting the Crows “under-cut” their players - as is being highlighted with claims McGovern is commanding just $370,000 a season from Adelaide while Fremantle, in his home state of WA, is prepared to offer twice as much and a longer term to his next contract.

Walker, who recently rearranged his contract to give Adelaide more salary cap space to deal with the Lever-McGovern deals, maintains the Crows can offer more than money to the young pair as Lever draws offers of at least $800,000 a season.

“It is a decision for Jake to make,” Walker said when asked if he would take a lead in trying to hold Lever to the Crows.

Brodie Smith, left, and Jake Lever sign autographs for fans at Crows training. Picture: Sarah Reed

“We provide a culture and environment that, hopefully, when he comes to make that decision he choses the right one.”

As the new AFL world has more and more players measure their options at rival clubs, Walker re-iterated: “I’d like to think, as I said, we offer an environment and culture that when it comes time for him to make his decision that it is the right one and he wants to stay at our footy club.”

Asked of Carey’s view on how Adelaide manages its player payments - and the need to make exceptions to ward off rival AFL clubs on Lever and McGovern - Walker bit at the Kangaroos legend saying: “It is an interesting comment. Does he do our books does he?

“Just like every other player, they’re super important to our side. I’m sure they’ll make their decision when they have to.”

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Originally published as Adelaide Crows captain Taylor Walker backs Crows culture to hold out-of-contract duo Mitch McGovern and Jake Lever