JAKE LEVER admits he is still finding his way at Melbourne.
The former Crow, who signed a four-year deal with his new club in October following Adelaide’s Grand Final humiliation, has been the subject of heavy criticism after just three games with the Demons.
Lever picked up 20 disposals at 65 per cent efficiency in Melbourne’s win over North Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday, but it wasn't a performance like those that earned him the reputation as one of the best intercept defenders in the competition.
"I’m just trying to find my feet at the minute," Lever told Channel Nine on Sunday.
"I thought my JLT form was pretty good, but obviously round one I was disappointed with how I performed.
"I think over the last two weeks I’m starting to find a little bit more form and just trying to find my place in the team."
Former Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd said Lever had been poor for the Demons.
"He’s come on a lot of money; I think he’s been disappointing early on … I know it’s going to take some time," Lloyd said on Channel Nine and Lever didn't disagree.
"I think he (Lloyd) hit the nail on the head perfectly. In terms of my ball use yesterday, I’m the first to admit it wasn’t great," the young Demon said.
"In the first game it was definitely my one-on-one defending, so I started really putting some time (into) that and I probably didn’t kick the ball as much as I usually do at training.
"This week I think I’ll be kicking the ball a fair bit."
Following the Demons' drought-breaking victory over the Kangaroos, coach Simon Goodwin cut his prized recruit some slack.
"Clearly Jake’s strength is his ability to come off his man and impact the ball aerially. I think in the last three weeks we’re starting to see more of that as the games have gone on. It’s certainly something that we know that he can bring to our team," said Goodwin.
"I think we need to give him some time - six or eight weeks to really find his feet, find the right chemistry with our back six. He was edging closer to his best again (on Saturday)."
