REVITALISED defender Jake Lever has opened up on his early struggles at Melbourne after his starring role in the downfall of his former side Adelaide.

Criticism flowed thick and fast as Lever – touted last year as the second coming of Alex Rance and who cost the Demons two first-round draft picks – initially failed to live up to his reputation.

The 22-year-old deleted his Twitter account at the height of the criticism in a bid to try to escape the scrutiny, some of which he believed was fair.

Lever was particularly frustrated with his debut performance in red and blue, when Geelong made a point of attacking through his opponents, but he has roared back to form after a difficult opening month.

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He revealed after Melbourne's 91-point win over the Crows at Alice Springs on Sunday that the hype which followed his decision to join the Demons on a lucrative five-year deal got to him.

"(The criticism) was hard, but for me it was really important just not to listen, because the coaches obviously knew there was much more for me to give to the team," he told AFL.com.au.

"They weren't terrible games … but when I came over the trade was a massive deal and there was heaps of expectation.

"I was as disappointed as anyone in the first four weeks, in terms of the way I was playing, but I think it might have been emphasised a bit more because the team wasn't going well as well.

"So it was just about getting back to basics, attacking the footy and just doing the things I do well, well."

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Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin credited Lever with setting the tone for the Demons in the weekend win with his aggressive attack on the football.

A tackle on Adelaide's Darcy Fogarty that earned Lever a free kick provided a perfect start and his knack for picking the right time to leave his man and impact another contest came to the fore.

The Crows largely let off Lever physically, other than an early tussle with Richard Douglas.

"It's been a pretty big week personally for me – it's never great coming up against some of your close mates and people you used to play with – but I'm just glad we played the way we did," he said.

"I didn't really know what to expect, to be honest, but there wasn't too much ruffling of the feathers, which just allowed me to play my natural game.

"That first contest is so important, so for me to be able to get that free kick (was great), but if that hadn't have come, I'd hope I would have settled into the game just as well."

Lever will have to face the Adelaide Oval music against the Crows in round 19, a date he admitted was circled on the calendar, but he is most focused on helping the Demons end their September drought.

Third-placed Melbourne has the competition's best percentage and is now being widely discussed as a premiership threat, let alone putting paid to 11 finals-less seasons.

"In terms of the feeling around the club, it's quite unique for me, because I wasn't there when Melbourne's times were low, in terms of not winning many games," he said.

"But I can see Nathan Jones – I hear he was a bit of a grumpy bastard before I came and now he's smiling every day.

"I think this is the first time in his career he's won five in a row, so for him to be a part of that is fantastic and he's really driving the standards around the club."