Jake Lever's desire to leave Adelaide has been fuelled in part by a meagre contract offer from the Crows when discussions with the star defender commenced earlier in 2017.

Both Lever and Adelaide's recently re-signed forward Mitch McGovern were initially offered contracts of around $300,000 per season by the Crows, significantly less than what the pair would reasonably command otherwise.

In August McGovern ended up signing a contract extension with the Crows to 2020 on significantly more money than the original offer. However for Lever it is as good as certain that he will not be at the Adelaide Oval in 2018 and beyond despite also receiving a better offer from the Crows.

While Lever, 21, wants to move to be home in Melbourne and to take advantage of his currency given his stellar season, it is understood the Crows initial "low-ball" offer to the no.14 pick in the 2014 draft did not do his chances of staying at Adelaide any good.