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Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker says Jake Lever chose money over AFL success when he asked for a trade to Melbourne.
Lever, who has been offered a lucrative four-year deal by the Demons, informed the Crows of his decision two days after their grand final defeat to Richmond.
Walker told Adelaide’s Triple M he had a blunt conversation with Lever and made it clear he was disappointed with his decision to leave Adelaide after three seasons.
But the skipper denied reports he engaged in a heated argument when the 21-year-old called him the Monday after the grand final.
“I didn’t have a crack at him,” Walker said.
“But I was pretty honest because I don’t like people leaving our footy club. I’m not going to agree with him.
“But I don’t think I was arrogant or aggressive towards him. I was probably blunt.
“He said that he’s decided to leave the footy club and I said ‘Mate, if that’s the decision you want to make … we’re two days out from losing a grand final and I think our footy club’s going in the right direction’.
“I think it’s pretty much him choosing money over success.”
Walker is not a fan of the modern AFL landscape where players can move more easily between clubs.
But he conceded the Crows had done well on the flip side of the issue with grand final teammates Tom Lynch, Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins and Sam Jacobs all starting their careers elsewhere.
The skipper was complimentary of Lever’s dedication to the Crows cause since his debut in 2015 but queried the youngster’s priorities.
“For Jake, I think the difference in money was a lot,” Walker said of the contract offers put to him.
“So if you’re driven by money or if you’re driven by success it’s a decision you need to make.”
Adelaide have begun trade talks with Melbourne and are sticking by their demand for two first-round draft picks for Lever.
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