Young defender Jake Lever says it was an easy decision to extend his contract with the Crows.
On Wednesday, it was announced Lever, who was already contacted for next season, had signed for an additional year, ensuring he will remain at Adelaide until at least the end of 2017.
Recruited from the Calder Cannons with the Club’s first pick (No.14 overall) in last year’s National Draft, Lever has impressed in nine AFL games this season. He received a Rising Star nomination in Round 17 after amassing a career-high 24 possessions and 10 marks
The unflappable 19-year-old said he was loving his time at the Adelaide Football Club.
“It was a pretty easy decision for me (to extend my contract). As soon as the Club and my manager started talking, I knew what I wanted to do,” Lever said on Wednesday.
“Ever since I’ve been here, the Club has been fantastic. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve really seen improvement in the boys and there’s a really clear vision of where we want to go.
“It was fantastic that the Club put its faith in me.”
Lever, who missed all of last season recovering from a knee reconstruction, made his AFL debut in Round Six after only a handful of SANFL games.
He praised the Crows coaching staff and leaders, including fellow defender Daniel Talia, for helping to fast-track his transition to the elite level.
“I was definitely surprised getting the call up so early to debut,” he said.
“I think the help from the coaches, ‘Dash’ (Defensive Coach Darren Milburn) and Jarrod Cotton (Development Defensive Coach) have been fantastic … as well as ‘Tals’ (Talia) and all the players.
“I’m still trying to grasp the AFL lifestyle – the professional lifestyle of coming into the Club each day and the recovery side of things. I think I’m gaining experience as I go along, just with little things … and I’m enjoying playing out there at the moment.”
Lever is part of Adelaide’s developing backline.
None of the Crows defenders, which include Talia, Lever, Kyle Hartigan, Luke Brown, Rory Laird, Brodie Smith and Ricky Henderson, have reached the 100-game milestone yet.
Lever said the youthful nature of the group had helped him to settle in quicker.
“Coming into an inexperienced backline has been a challenge, but we really bounce off each other,” he said.
“Being so young, there’s not that older head. Tals is the most experienced down there and an All Australian, and a leader.
“We try to push each other at training and even during games there are some heated conversations out there.”
Lever and the Crows will face another challenge this week in the form of Essendon.
The Bombers have won three of the past four games between the two sides, but Adelaide will be motivated to reclaim a place in the top eight with a win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Lever said it was important Adelaide produced a similar performance to the one against Richmond.
“Last week was a huge stepping stone for us in the way we came out and performed. I think ‘Campo’ (Interim Coach Scott Camporeale) said at the end of the game that it’s the blueprint for how we want to play. The most important thing now is putting that (performance) out there every week instead of just letting it happen one week.
“This is a big game for us, as is every game until the end of the year. We want to make finals, so that’s what keeps us ticking.”
