DESPITE a few parting shots fired in his direction when he left Adelaide to join Melbourne, Jake Lever insists his first meeting with his old club is not a grudge match.
After seeing off Carlton in record-setting style, the Demons are relishing Sunday's clash with the Crows, hoping it will be the match that gives their finals tilt serious momentum.
Lever joined the Demons in somewhat acrimonious circumstances in the off-season, with Melbourne sending two first-round draft picks to Adelaide.
It was a hefty price to pay, especially given his slow start to life with the Demons.
The 22-year-old deleted his Twitter account in the wake of early-season criticism when his own form mirrored that of his club, but like his teammates, he's hitting his stride.
Lever impressed with 27 disposals against the Blues in the Demons' 109-point demolition on Sunday, ripping up the record book with their biggest triumph over Carlton in 122 seasons.
"It is finally the week that I get to play Adelaide," Lever said after the Carlton clash.
"Some of my best mates still play for Adelaide. For me it was never going to ruin any friendships or anything like that.
"I'm sure there'll be a cheeky couple of texts this week. I'm just excited to go up to Alice Springs and play well hopefully and hopefully we get the four points."
The Carlton win was the fourth in succession for the revitalised Demons, who have failed to reach the finals since 2006, with the percentage boost moving them to third spot on the ladder.
But question marks still exist given Simon Goodwin's men have beaten Essendon (14th), St Kilda (16th), Gold Coast (15th) and Carlton (18th) in that run.
But victory over Adelaide, last year's minor premiers and boasting the same 6-3 record as the Demons, would be something else.
And Lever knows the match at Traeger Park is a big one.
"For us to hopefully go up there and win would be a huge step forward for our footy club," he said.
"They boys are ready to really take a step forward and hopefully compete against a really quality side."
