MELBOURNE defender Jake Lever concedes he was shocked when he received the doctor's initial diagnosis that he had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Saturday's game against the Western Bulldogs.
Results from scans on Sunday confirmed the worst after the Demons' initial diagnosis on game day, with Lever to miss the rest of the season.
Lever will meet with a surgeon later on Monday to decide when surgery will be performed, although it's likely to be later in the week.
"It was a bit of shock for me. Initially I probably thought I didn't do anything too significant," Lever told reporters on Monday.
"I just went to change direction and it kind of hurt and I was a bit shocked when the doctors and physio started testing my ACL in the rooms.
"When I got the scans you prepare yourself for the worst, but it still hurts when it hits you."
It is the second time the defender has torn the ACL in his left knee, with Lever having a knee reconstruction as a 17-year-old before being drafted by Adelaide with pick No.14 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.
The 22-year-old, who requested a trade from the Crows at the end of last season, said he did not have any doubts about returning to his best once he had completed his rehabilitation.
"I haven't had any problems in four years. A lot of people (after suffering an ACL injury) have complications with swelling and things like that," Lever said.
"For me, over the last three to four years, I've had no problems with it, so, for me, it's about doing the rehab properly and taking my time and making sure when I do come back I'm bigger and better than ever."
Teammate Jake Melksham said the Demons would rally around Lever during a difficult time.
"It's heart-breaking news for Jake. Obviously, he was just starting to hit his straps and a new guy at a new club playing some good footy, only young as well," Melksham said.
"He's been in a really positive headspace, so he'll go through some dark times I'm sure but at the minute he's pretty good.
"It's always hard to watch, even when it's a guy from another club. It's a shame, but he'll put the work in and come back bigger and better next year."
Melksham tweaked his right ankle when his foot was trapped underneath his body in a tackle in the first quarter of the Demons' 49-point win at Etihad Stadium.
The forward played out the game but was sore throughout and had scans on Monday morning to ensure there was no further damage.
"The ankle's good. I had a scan before so there's a little bit of bruising, but moving forward, all good," Melksham said.
"We've got a nine-day break. Yesterday (Sunday) I was hobbling around a little bit, but today I'm walking a lot more fluently, so I'm hoping by the weekend it's cherry ripe."
