Collingwood running machine Jack Crisp says the Magpies must find a way to hinder Demons defenders Steven May and Jake Lever in Thursday night’s qualifying final – and the statistics emphasise his point.
The Magpies experienced first hand how lethal May’s intercept-marking can be in their sole match against the Demons this season; a King’s Birthday weekend clash that ended their eight-game winning streak.
Melbourne backmen Steven May and Jake Lever are important rebounding defenders for their team.Credit: Getty
May had four intercept marks that afternoon, the equal most of any Demon, while blanketing Brody Mihocek. His team combined for 23 intercept marks, their equal most for the season.
The Magpies too often chose poor options when heading inside their forward 50 metres, meaning their forward line, already without Jamie Elliott, Daniel McStay and Jack Ginnivan, did not have its typical potency.
Heading into a week-one finals blockbuster, Crisp says the Magpies will be ready for a physical start, but then must be clever when heading into attacking 50, for May and fellow intercepting master Lever will again be ready to pounce.
Jake Lever and Steven May are one of the AFL’s most formidable key defensive duos.Credit: Getty Images
“Finals is a different type of football. It’s going to be high-octane early; a lot of bodies flying everywhere, a lot of hard hits. But we feel like we will be ready for that from Melbourne,” Crisp said.
“We have a few big boys in there as well that can throw their weight around. We will be ready to brace for that, then send the ball flying our way forward.
“Hopefully, we can take out May and Lever, [their] intercepting players, and, hopefully, hold a lot of territory and put some scoreboard pressure on them.”
Half-back Christian Salem was also instrumental in the King’s Birthday, amassing nine intercept possessions.
May was an All-Australian defender in 2021 and 2022 , but was overlooked this year.
A deeper dive of the statistics shows the Demons have won 10 of the 11 games this year when he has taken at least three intercept marks. The anomaly was against Greater Western Sydney in round 16.
In the 10 games May has taken two or fewer intercept marks, the Demons are 5-5.
The Demons also boast a strong record when Lever – who was also chosen as an All-Australian in Melbourne’s 2021 premiership year – has a major influence. They have won nine of 12 games in which he has taken at least three intercept marks.
“Me and Steve love playing with each other and the other backline players,” Lever said.
Game plan: Jack Crisp says the Magpies cannot allow Demons Steven may and Jake Lever to flourish.Credit: Getty Images
The May-Lever partnership is pivotal to the Demons boasting a defence that fits the profile of the past 10 premiership teams. In this period, the winning side has been ranked in the top six for points conceded, and points conceded from turnovers.
The Demons this year boast the second-best defence, conceding just 72.2 points per game – only St Kilda (71.6) has been more frugal. Melbourne has also conceded the least number of points from turnovers (41.1), shading Brisbane (41.2) and Collingwood (41.4).
May and Lever are central to this, for they are strong one-on-one defenders, are prepared to step across and help teammates, and, just as importantly, organise their team’s positioning behind the ball.
Lever said the Magpies, now with McStay, Elliott and Ginnivan in the line-up, will be a major test.
“We love that sort of challenge as a backline group. As a group of seven … we really pride ourselves that, in the big moments in big games, we, hopefully, can stand up,” Lever said.
“We have proven a couple of times this year that we have been able to do that, but that doesn’t mean it is going to get handed to us.
“The message for the Magpies is clear. Whoever lines up on May and Lever not only have the job of being offensive threats, but must take the ball to ground as often as possible, thereby hindering May and Lever’s influence, and slowing the Demons’ counter-attack.
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