Jake Lever’s absence could force Melbourne to alter its game plan

MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin says the Demons would consider altering the way they play to help cover the loss of star defender Jake Lever.

Jake Lever after confirming his season is over.

MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin says the Demons would consider altering the way they play to help cover the loss of star defender Jake Lever.

Lever, 22, tore his anterior cruciate ligament only seven months after the club parted with two first-round draft picks to land the star intercepting defender from Adelaide.

Spring-heeled backman Joel Smith is likely to replace Lever for Monday’s Queen’s Birthday blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG, while first-year 197cm defender Harrison Petty (pick No.37) was also in the extended squad.

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In-form VFL tall Cam Pedersen is also in line to play his first match since Round 2 in place of omitted utility Tim Smith.

Goodwin said the club would also consider changes to its game style in the wake of Lever’s departure.

“Jake Lever is a really important part of our footy club,” Goodwin said.

Jake Lever after confirming his season-ending knee injury.

“You can’t go and find the next Jake Lever you have got to find someone who will fulfil the role within the team.

“So we may have to change and explore the way we play.”

Goodwin refused to douse the hype surrounding Monday’s clash against Collingwood, with the red-hot Demons looking to nail their seventh-straight win.

Collingwood has also moved further inside the eight after booting 21 goals for the first time in two years in Sunday’s rout against Fremantle

Goodwin said the club would trial several options in defence over the next month as the club surges towards a drought-breaking finals appearance.

Sam Frost remains on the outer due to form.

“We have got to decide whether we go a bit taller or we go smaller and really complement the guys we have got down there,” Goodwin said.

“We are going to test and learn about our group over the next four or five weeks and really look to find something within our group that works for us.”

Melbourne co-captain Jack Viney. Picture: Michael Klein

Goodwin said he was also mindful of the in-form Collingwood midfield which has helped Nathan Buckley’s men top the competition for disposals this year.

But Goodwin said his own midfield – which was ranked 18th in the competition by Champion Data at the start of last year – was developing into “a special group”.

“Obviously (Brodie) Grundy is big part of that without question, but they have got four or five guys who consistently get high possession,” he said.

“They help drive their offence and they are actually defending and playing their roles within the team incredibly well and they have been really impressive the way they have gone about their footy this year.

“We know it (midfield) is a huge battle in the game.

“There is no doubt we have increased our depth and it wasn’t too long ago that we were rated quite poorly as a midfield group.

“Now we feel like we have got some depth, we have some young players who are playing some outstanding footy and we obviously count Nathan Jones and Jack Viney in that mix.

“We obviously feel like we have got a pretty special group developing together.”

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