Melbourne has landed the first blow of this year's NAB AFL Trade Period, securing emerging key defender Jake Lever in a deal with Adelaide.

The Demons and Crows finalised a trade for Lever on Thursday morning, in which Melbourne gave up pick No.10 and its 2018 first-round and fourth-round selections. In addition to Lever, the Crows gave the Demons pick No.35 and their 2018 third-round selection. 

Lever, 21, requested a trade to Melbourne just days after the Crows' Grand Final loss to Richmond. 

The Crows were quick to demand two first-round picks for the Victorian, while the Demons initially offered their first two selections, Nos.10 and 27, in this year's draft. 

Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney confirmed on Thursday that Lever had a four-year deal.

"We're really pleased to get the deal over the line. Jake was a targeted player for us during this trade period.

"We know what we're getting. We're getting a 21-year-old All Australian squad defender who's very competitive and has great character.

"It was a bit complicated to get it across the line … but we always had the intention of getting the deal done despite a slow start... He certainly fits into our age bracket as well."

Lever, 195cm and 93kg, played 56 games in three seasons with Adelaide and emerged as one of the competition's most exciting key defenders in 2017.

With Crows teammate Daniel Talia manning the opposition's most dangerous key forward most weeks, Lever averaged the most intercept marks in the AFL this season, 3.8 a game.

He was named in the All Australian squad of 40 and was widely considered unlucky to miss the final team.

Adelaide list strategy manager Justin Reid said the deal was "a fair result for both parties".

"They get Jake Lever and obviously we all move on. We wish Jake all the best for his future with the Melbourne Football Club. And we [thank him] for all his efforts with the Adelaide Football Club over the last three years."

The former Calder Cannon should fit seamlessly into the Demons' backline alongside fellow talls Oscar McDonald and Sam Frost, allowing Melbourne to deploy Tom McDonald in attack in the wake of Jack Watts' expected departure.

For more trade news, visit the NAB AFL Trade Hub, brought to you by Anytime Fitness.