Jake Lever is drawing serious attention from rival AFL clubs ahead of this year’s trade period, with North Melbourne emerging as a surprise suitor for the premiership-winning defender.
Despite being contracted with Melbourne until the end of 2028, Lever’s name has surfaced in trade discussions. According to Nine’s Chief Football Reporter Tom Morris, the Kangaroos have already expressed “preliminary interest” in the 29-year-old, who has now played more than 180 games across stints with Adelaide and Melbourne.
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“North Melbourne has preliminary interest in contracted Melbourne veteran Jake Lever,” Morris said on Tuesday night. “They have discussed him, and are weighing up a possible move for him in the trade period.”
Clubs ‘sniffing around’ despite Demons stance
Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph reported Lever’s appeal goes well beyond just the Kangaroos. While Melbourne currently insist they’re not entertaining any offers, there’s growing belief that the defender’s next move could be pivotal, especially with leadership succession looming.
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“Everyone’s interested in Jake; he’s certainly had no contact with any other club,” Ralph said on Midweek Tackle. “He’s invested. It may well be he’s the next captain of this football club if Max Gawn decides, ‘I just can’t do it anymore’.”
“Big decision for Melbourne to make on Jake. Right now they’re saying ‘nothing doing’, but there are a lot of clubs out there sniffing around him.”
Lever played 56 games for Adelaide before joining Melbourne in 2018, where he has since become a key pillar of the Demons’ defence, including in their 2021 premiership run.