A former Adelaide teammate is sticking by Jake Lever after the new Demon caused a stir this week while talking up his move home to Melbourne.

Malcolm Blight said Lever’s comments ‘reeked of self-importance’, but good mate Rory Atkins says he doesn’t have an issue.

“I’m glad that he’s happy there,” Atkins told afl.com.au.

“I’m good friends with Jake. If he wasn’t happy here, me, caring for him as a person, I’d want him to be as happy off-field as he can.

“I’m glad he’s settled in there well.”

Atkins and fellow Crow Jordan Gallucci both signed new deals with the club last week.