THE LOSS of Jake Lever to a season-ending knee injury is impacting Melbourne in several ways.

The Demons are sorely missing the star defender's elite intercept ability, but the absence of his leadership and ability to organise the defence has been just as damaging.

As Melbourne won eight of its first 11 games, Lever was vital in helping his backline teammates get in the right position to impact contests in the air or at ground level.

With Lever missing and with a largely inexperienced group of key talls, including Oscar McDonald (51 games), Joel Smith (six) and debutant Harrison Petty playing against St Kilda, the lack of defensive cohesion was telling. 

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Melbourne has a high opinion of Petty and his ability to process defensive concepts quickly was one of the reasons he was preferred ahead of the more experienced Sam Frost.

However, the first-gamer looked out of his depth against the Saints and it would seem sensible for the Demons to include Frost or mature-age rookie Declan Keilty for the trip to Darwin to take on Fremantle.

Personnel decisions aside, Melbourne's numbers with Lever in the side this season and the corresponding figures without him make for interesting reading. 

Melbourne's defence has been exposed in recent weeks without its marquee recruit. The Demons conceded an AFL-high 109 points per game between rounds 12-15.

With Lever in the side in the first 11 matches, the Demons conceded 76.9 points per game, sixth-best in the competition. 

The former Crow struggled in his first four or five games in his new colours but was starting to hit a purple patch of form before he went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Western Bulldogs in round 11.

Lever is one of the most vocal players at training and out on the field, with the defender often barking instructions to teammates and encouraging them for their good defensive plays.

The 22-year-old has a high football IQ. He understands the game and his awareness of how his team is trying to defend the opposition sets him apart from his contemporaries.

Over the last month, the Demons have allowed an average of 15.3 marks inside 50 per game, compared to nine in the first 11 weeks when Lever was present. 

Lever's absence has had a flow-on effect, with chief rebounder Michael Hibberd often forced to play on taller opponents, instead of playing the effective run-and-carry style that earned him an All Australian jumper last season. 

Furthermore, Melbourne's lack of defensive pressure further up the field against St Kilda placed excessive pressure on its youthful backline. The Demons are sure to consider recalling Charlie Spargo, Jeff Garlett or Dean Kent as genuine small forward pressure players against Fremantle.

Coach Simon Goodwin singled out his players for their lack of defensive work rate against St Kilda. Midfielder Angus Brayshaw told AFL.com.au's AFL Exchange podcast there would be a specific focus on "tightening up defensively" against the Dockers.

A stretch of three successive losses has highlighted Melbourne's deficiencies and with Lever absent until 2019, it will take some significant defensive adjustments for Goodwin's side to get its season back on track. 

The impact of losing Lever

Stats supplied by Champion Data

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