JAKE Lever says he’s moved on from the disappointment of playing in a losing Grand Final at the home of football, and is ready to start his career with Melbourne against the Geelong Cats at the MCG this Sunday.
The key Melbourne recruit will play his first home and away match for the Demons this weekend – at the scene where he played in Adelaide’s losing Grand Final to Richmond last September.
Although the 22-year-old Victorian said the South Australian club would always mean plenty to him, he was ready to start his new career with the red and blue.
“I’m pretty excited to be honest,” he told Melbourne Media.
“It was a super disappointing feeling [the last time I played at the MCG], but now I’ve moved on, and I’m just super excited to be starting the chapter with the Melbourne Demons and all of my new teammates.
“Even though Adelaide does hold a little place in my heart, in terms of my teammates and the club, I’m just super excited to start at the Demons and get round one rolling.”
Lever expected Melbourne’s first round to be a fiercely contested match, particularly with the forecast.
“I’ve looked at the weather gauge and I think it’s 22 [degrees] and pouring with rain. We’ve got a philosophy that we just rock up in any condition and just play to win and hopefully we’ll just get it done,” he said.
“It’s going to be a really hard-fought game. Geelong has been a super game, for not only last year, but two or three years before that.
“We’re just excited for the challenge that it brings and hopefully we’ll get the chocolates on Sunday.”
Lever said his pre-season had been strong and he had enjoyed blending in with his new backline group.
“In my first couple of years, I got into the trap of going 110 per cent every single session and missing a total of four or five weeks. But this pre-season, I’ve been getting through and making sure that I stay out there to be able to learn with my other teammates – now that I’ve got new ones,” he said.
“It’s been fantastic. You learn about 12 different guys and their lives, and how they play their footy. It’s just been great to be able to do that this pre-season.
“I’ve just been able to get that chemistry with everyone, so it’s been really good. I’m super excited to be able to run out with some of them on the weekend and build a bit more trust, and hopefully get the win on Sunday.”
