Teenage defender Jake Lever has been rewarded for his exceptional performance against the Dockers with a spot in AFL Media’s ‘Team of the Week’ for Round Nine.

In arguably the most intense and high-pressure game of the weekend, the Crows youngster showed incredible poise and maturity in just his fourth AFL game.

Lever stood tall under pressure playing against one of the most experienced and diverse forward lines in the competition. He rarely panicked with any of his 17 possessions and snared five marks in the wet.

Lever battled manfully one-on-one against opponents with far more experience and bulk compared to his raw 194cm and 85kg frame. But the first-round draft selection said he hasn’t been intimidated by the challenge of AFL football, even when opposed to Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands deep inside defensive 50 on Saturday night.

 

 

Adelaide selected Lever with Adelaide’s first pick (No.14) in last year’s National Draft despite the competitive defender missing the entire 2014 season with a ruptured ACL, making his rise to AFL ranks even more impressive.

Gun midfielder Patrick Dangerfield was the only other Crow to make the cut in the ‘Team of the Week’ for Round Nine.

Dangerfield was named ruck rover after his incredible performance battling head-to-head with hot Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe.

He won a season-high 38 disposals and an equal-AFL record 29 contested possessions in the wet at Adelaide Oval along with nine clearances and a goal.

See AFL Media’s full ‘Team of the Week’ for Round Nine