Jake Lever is struggling with a sore knee rather than the foot problem that has been reported.
That is the understanding of SEN regular and Herald Sun journalist Sam Edmund who says the Melbourne defender will miss this weekend’s clash with Fremantle despite returning from a knee reconstruction to play against Collingwood in Round 12 prior to their bye.
“Jake Lever is struggling with knee soreness and it’s that problem, rather than the reported foot issue, that will almost certainly cost him this week’s clash against Fremantle,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“You can see why clubs might do this though because the hysteria that would come around an injury like a knee for Jake Lever would be extreme.
“He has only played the one game since returning from a second reconstruction. He just had the week’s rest with the bye but he is sore.
“Melbourne say no massive cause for alarm there. Just needs a little bit of a spell, potentially, and he’ll be right to go.
“Nothing structurally there at work.”
The former Adelaide backman has played just 12 games since crossing from the Crows prior to the 2018 season.
The Demons, who sit 16th on the ladder with three wins, face an in-form Dockers side at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.