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DEPARTING Adelaide defender Jake Lever deserved to play in the Grand Final despite having made up his mind to leave the Crows, forward Josh Jenkins says.
Lever played in all three of the Crows' finals games, including last Saturday's 48-point loss to Richmond in the Grand Final.
On Tuesday, the out-of-contract 21-year-old announced he would be seeking a trade to take up a lucrative four-year contract with Melbourne.
"He's an important part of our team and a lot of the guys understand this is the modern game," Jenkins told FIVEaa on Thursday.
"Players have the right to fulfill a contract and then leave.
"That's just the way the game goes.
"You couldn't question Jake's commitment to the team and commitment to play good footy.
"It's incredibly disappointing Jake has chosen to leave, don't get me wrong, but you can't question the way he played in the second half of the year."
It's been reported senior Crows players, including captain Taylor Walker, went to coach Don Pyke and wanted Lever dropped after he failed to pledge his future to the club on the eve of the finals.
Jenkins, who isn't in the Crows' leadership group, said he wasn't personally aware of those conversations taking place.
"I'm not privy to every single thing, I'm not part of the senior leadership group," Jenkins said.
"Certainly, I have no awareness of anyone not wanting him to play."
Jenkins said he was "certainly annoyed" Lever quit the Crows and briefly spoke to him at a players' end of season function on Tuesday.
"We're spewing that he's leaving, but that's his decision," Jenkins said.
Jenkins said he was unsure if Lever would attend the Crows' club champion function at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday night.
Forward Charlie Cameron – who is contracted with the Crows until the end of 2018 - has reportedly requested a trade so he can join the Brisbane Lions and be closer to family in Queensland.
"I'm not aware of that and I'm quite close to Charlie, so if that were to be true, I'd hope to know that, so hopefully that's an incorrect report," Jenkins said.
"He is a contracted player and we feel like, as a club, we have put in a lot with Charlie and he's heavily invested in our group, too.
"I think he would admit as well that this is the best place for him to be, so hopefully, (a) that's not true, and (b) he wants to stay."
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