Hawthorn vice-captain Jordan Lewis signs three-year deal with Melbourne Demons

JORDAN Lewis will play out his career at Melbourne after Hawthorn sensationally offloaded their vice-captain effectively for free.

JORDAN Lewis will play out his career at Melbourne after Hawthorn sensationally offloaded their vice-captain for effectively free.

Lewis, 30, follows five-time best-and-fairest winner Sam Mitchell out the Waverley door in a spring cleaning of Hawthorn champions which has blindsided the football world.

Melbourne secured Lewis on a three-year contract, pick 57 and 68 in exchange for 48 and 66.

Mitchell last week was sent to West Coast in a pick swap which landed the Hawks No. 88.

TRADE TALK LIVE HERE

The exit of Hawthorn’s heart-and-soul players frees up crucial salary cap space at Hawthorn.

Lewis said he was given no guarantees at Hawthorn beyond next year and the prospect of greater job security and on-field success was the catalyst for change after “a difficult” discussion a fortnight ago with premiership coach Alastair Clarkson.

“It’s a new challenge. It’s been a funny couple of weeks but something I’m really excited about,” Lewis told the media this afternoon.

“From what I’ve seen from the outside of the Melbourne Football Club they seem to be going in the right direction and certainly the people that I’ve met within the club over the past week or two have confirmed that.

“Clarko and I had a conversation nearly two weeks ago now and that (job security) was the basis of the conversation, nothing could be guaranteed past next year and I understood that, one you do pass that 30 year old mark things do become mainly year by year.

DONE DEAL: Welcome to Melbourne, @JordanLewisO3!

Trade details: https://t.co/cskp1DTrgN #myheartbeatstrue pic.twitter.com/PV3LtXaPl7

— Melbourne FC (@melbournefc) October 18, 2016

“I think that’s (three years) the start, I personally think I can play longer, but the proof will be in the pudding.”

Lewis said his relationship with Clarkson is as strong today as it was two weeks ago when he finished second in Hawthorn’s best and fairest.

The four-time premiership star dismissed speculation he was asked to take a pay cut so as the Hawks could secure Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara and Tyrone Vickery.

In a statement on the Melbourne website, Lewis paid tribute to Hawthorn and explained what had attracted him to his new club.

“I firstly want to start off by thanking the Hawthorn Football Club. I arrived there as an 18-year-old from Warrnambool and to leave the club as a four-time premiership player is something I am very proud of,” he said.

Jordan Lewis + 57 + 68 for 48 + 66. Signed at Melbourne until 2019.

Unbelievable.

— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) October 18, 2016

“I am truly grateful for everything that Hawthorn has done for myself and my family and I will never forget the memories of what we achieved together as a club. I want to thank every player, coach, staff member and supporter for everything they have done along the journey and I wish the club the very best in the future.

“My decision to come to Melbourne started when Clarko and I caught up a couple of weeks ago for what was a really honest chat.

“We spoke about what my future could look like beyond my current contract and following that catch-up I sat down and looked at my options.

“I looked at every club in the competition and after going through every list, Melbourne was the one that stood out — if I wasn’t going to be at Hawthorn. It was clear to me that I wanted to play for the Melbourne Football Club.

“I then met with Goody, Josh and Todd early last week and following that, it really solidified my thoughts about joining Melbourne.

“I believe in what the club is building. There is some outstanding young talent at the club and that is an area I can certainly play a role in — mentoring and developing those players both in an on-field and off-field sense.

Jordan Lewis has signed a three-year deal with Melbourne Demons

Took this photo of Jordan Lewis on MCG after he'd won his 3rd premiership with Hawthorn. My fav photo. Crazy to think he's no longer a Hawk pic.twitter.com/m3LSAfIFw0

— Kate Salemme (@KateSalemme) October 18, 2016

“I’m really looking forward to this new challenge. We have a lot of work to do but from what I know, and from what I have seen first-hand, the players seem up for the fight and I can’t wait to get to work at the club.”

Lewis’s manager, Liam Pickering, said the premiership star’s relationship with Hawthorn remains strong despite the trade.

“Good, no problems there. They caught up again this morning and there’s no issues there, Jordan is a professional, he understands how it works. That’s the game these days and his relationship with Alastair (Clarkson) will be strong,” Pickering said.

“He’s rapt to be there now, obviously with a bit of initial shock after the discussion (with Clarkson) but overall he’s just happy to get to Melbourne and be a Melbourne player.”

Pickering confirmed Gold Coast’s interest in Lewis over the weekend but the bullocking midfielder only wanted to play for Melbourne.

“There was certainly interest (from Gold Coast) on the weekend,” Pickering told Trade Radio.

“In the end he just made his mind up from the get go that if he could get to Melbourne and get him there well that’s where he wanted to play.

Lewis is the latest name to walk away from Hawthorn

“The reality was he’s got his eggs in the basket at the Melbourne footy club and we were able to get it done.”

Josh Mahoney, general manager of football at Melbourne said Lewis brings leadership qualities and an elite AFL mindset to the Club.

“Jordan is a fierce competitor who is driven to win, and those are qualities that you can’t have enough of at our footy Club,” he said.

“Clearly he is an elite AFL player and his footballing resume speaks for itself, but we also see Jordan as a leader who can play a major role in the development and mentoring of our younger players both on and off the field.

“We know we are still a very young team. We are projecting to have half of our best 22 under the age of 23 next season and that’s why bringing in a player of Jordan’s experience and calibre was important to us.

“He understands where we are at as a Club. He knows we have a considerable amount of work to do before becoming a consistent finals team, but the example he will set for our younger players will be invaluable for us.”