Jake Lever trains at West Lakes. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe. Source: News Limited
UNLIKE most top draftees, ace Crows recruit Jake Lever grew up without a football role model.
He has one now.
Lever, who has been at the club for only a week, has identified Adelaide club champion Daniel Talia as the player he wants to learn from and forge a long-term partnership with in the heart of the Crows backline.
"Growing up I was unique in that I didn't really model my game on anyone, I just tried to do the things that the coaches asked of me,'' Lever said.
"But now that I am at Adelaide, Daniel Talia is definitely the one I want to learn off.
"I've been probably pestering him a little bit with my questions and all that sort of stuff because he really is the perfect mentor and role model to learn off.''
Talia, 23, is considered the most professional player at the Crows and one of the best prepared in club history.
He is almost maniacal with his attention to detail and his pursuit of perfection, leading to him winning this year's club champion award and earning All-Australian selection.
The newest member of Adelaide's six-man leadership group, Talia said he is more than happy to act as Lever's tutor.
"I know when I was young I was doing the same thing with 'Truck' (Ben Rutten), that's one way to learn and improve quickly,'' Talia said.
Handed the No. 6 guernsey made famous at Adelaide by 440-goal full forward Tony Modra, Lever hopes to make his mark at the other end of the ground.
Renowned for his strong competitive spirit, the Calder Cannons product comes highly rated.
Champion Data ranked him as the sixth best-credentialled draft prospect in the land behind top three draft selections Paddy McCartin (St Kilda) and Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne), Sydney Academy pick-up Isaac Heeney and Gold Coast-bound ruckman/forward Peter Wright.
Ther 18-year-old only slipped to the Crows at pick 14 because he is coming off a knee reconstruction which cost him the entire 2014 season.
"Had he played this year he would possibly have been the No. 1 selection,'' said Calder talent manager Ian Kyte.
Lever, who injured his knee in December last year, is back in full training and will be ready to go in round one next season.
New Crows coach Phil Walsh has lauded the 193cm Lever's toughness and aggression, attributing it to his five years of boxing training.
But Lever went to great lengths to play down his fighting nature, saying "I think people have blown that up a little bit.
"I did boxing from about the age of 13 or 14 when I decided I didn't want to do anything else other than footy.
"I quit cricket and needed something else to help me keep fit, so I did boxing. It got a little bit more serious two or three years later when I started doing some sparring but that was it.
"If anything my competitiveness is natural and might stem from having two younger brothers (Tyson, 16, and Connor, 14). I've always tried to beat them because I just don't like getting beaten.''
Walsh wouldn't have it any other way.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Young gun Lever has sights on emulating Talia
Dengan url
http://sudahterlupakan.blogspot.com/2014/12/young-gun-lever-has-sights-on-emulating.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Young gun Lever has sights on emulating Talia
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Young gun Lever has sights on emulating Talia
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar