Adelaide’s first-round draft pick Jake Lever gives an insight into his first weeks at the Club in our final edition of Draftee Diary.
Tell us about the first 48 hours after being drafted by the Crows …
“The first 48 hours after being drafted were pretty full on, especially for me. I was lucky enough to go up to the Gold Coast with my family and leading up to it I was really nervous. It was all a big whirlwind. A lot of people said to me ‘it will all be over within seconds’ and, to tell you the truth, I didn’t believe them. But it was true, it all hit me at once and within 48 hours I got about 35 phone calls and 50 messages. But I was so rapt to get my name called.”
What was it like having dinner with Phil Walsh and the recruiting team after the draft?
“It was really good to get to know him away from football and learn his story, and he got to know mine. It was also fantastic to catch up with Hamish Ogilvie and Phil Bunn after the draft too.”
Patrick Dangerfield and Andy Otten were on your flight in to Adelaide, how did it feel to travel with those two and be greeted by the likes of Rory Sloane and Taylor Walker at the airport?
“Harry Dear and I arrived in Adelaide on Sunday and Patty Dangerfield and ‘Otto’ were on our flight, which was really good. I got a bit star-struck at the start, but I eventually got used to having them around. To be met at the airport by Walshy, Sloane and ‘Tex’ Walker was a moment that I’ll never forget.”
You’ve done a bit of training including some weights, boxing and grappling, how have you been finding it?
“The first-year players have done a few bits and pieces now. Unfortunately I was sick with a stomach bug on the first day. It’s a massive step up from any standard, especially going from a big running session, then backing that up with weights, craft and even the injury prevention stuff is still pretty hard. The fitness staff have been really good easing us in, but it’s been very challenging at the same time.”
How did you cope in your first main training session?
“It was pretty tough and a big shock. To tell you the truth, I thought the warm up was the whole session. We went out and did the warm up and I actually thought we were jogging back inside, but then everyone was saying ‘good warm up boys’ and I was thinking ‘oh god, this is only the start’. We did all the drills and some conditioning afterwards which was pretty challenging. I went to bed at about 7.30 that night. But they ease you into it and don’t put you in the deep end straight away.”
Did Jake Kelly tell you about his first training session and how he got the nickname ‘The Bull’?
“Jake didn’t tell me, but everyone else did! I think it was a similar story to mine of him going hell-to-leather in the warm up and everyone was thinking ‘what is he doing?’. But I guess that’s probably what we all wanted to do on our first day. I know I was going pretty hard trying to impress everyone, but I think if you just slowly build up over time you will start to get the respect of the players.”
How did you go in your first Body Balance session?
“I haven’t done any yoga or anything before, but I’m definitely going to take those classes at least once a week now. It was really relaxing and once I step up the training load a bit more I think I’m going to need those stretching classes.”
What was it like getting your jumper and your locker number?
“We got our jumper numbers on the Tuesday of the first week, and I was lucky enough to get a pretty good one in No.6. I was rapt, but I wouldn’t of really cared if it No.106 – I just want to wear a Crows jumper. I’m also in the middle of two pretty important players at the Crows in Nathan van Berlo and Scott Thompson. They’re fantastic - they’re always asking what I’m doing, how I’m going and just generally welcoming me to the Club.”
How important is it to build bonds with the other first-year players?
“It’s really important. You’re all in the same position no matter what number you get drafted with, in the same way that it doesn’t matter what jumper number you wear. You’ve all got the same opportunity. We have similar experiences with the training intensity going up, so it’s good to get together for dinner every now and again and talk about some of the funny things going on around the Club. It’s also good having Harry Dear and Mitch McGovern at the Crows, as they both moved here from interstate. We all share that experience of moving out of home within two days of your name being called out on draft night. All the boys are great and there’s nobody who doesn’t fit in from all seven draftees.”
We’ve got one of your Calder Cannons teammates at the Club now in Reilly O’Brien, can you tell us a bit about him?
“I played with Reilly in 2013 and he’s a fantastic kid first of all. He’s very intelligent and he’s just great to be around because he brings a bit of humour to the team. He was very important for us in 2013 in calming us down and providing a bit of a laugh. As a player, he’s fantastic in the ruck and up forward. He’s going to be a very good player if he puts his mind to it, and there’s no doubt that he is going to work hard. Even though he’s 200-plus centremetres he still runs like a midfielder – he’s really fit. I’m just looking forward to watching him develop over the years and hopefully he plays a lot of games for the Crows.”
Have you got a nickname yet?
“Matty Jaensch has given me ‘Fulcrum’. I don’t even know what that means and he’s tried to explain it to me a couple of times. I think it’s the opposite of lever, but I’m not sure. He was probably sitting there on draft night thinking up nicknames each time the Crows read out a name. That’s about the only nickname that I’ve been given.”
