SIDELINED Melbourne star Jake Lever is set to take up a coaching role with the Demons as he recovers from a knee reconstruction.

Lever's first season with Melbourne was cut short in round 11 when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Western Bulldogs.

The 22-year-old has had a second reconstruction on the knee and is progressing well, according to coach Simon Goodwin.

"He's in a great mental frame of mind to attack his rehab," Goodwin said.

"He'll obviously take some time away, but he'll attack his rehab and come back really strong.

"Our medical and high-performance team are really confident with what they've put together and that he'll come back strong."

The intercept defender was playing his 11th game for the Demons after switching from Adelaide where he made 56 senior appearances.

He will aim for a return to the field early next season but has already indicated his desire to remain involved in the Demons' 2018 campaign.

"He was in the coaches' box on the Queen's Birthday ... it wasn't a great first-up experience for him," Goodwin said of his side's 42-point loss to Collingwood.

"But he'll come in regularly, he wants to be involved in the coaching.

"He's a good leader, he's a great educator, so as soon as he's up and feeling better and can move around then we'll get him back coaching."