St Kilda’s relationship with Andrew Lovett is surely now untenable. The club quickly distanced itself from the fallen star suspending him indefinitely while police investigate an alleged sexual assault on Christmas Eve last year. But what if Police never end up laying any charges?
What happens if it takes a year to complete the investigation? Where does that leave Lovett?
The writing is on the wall and either way St Kilda it seems has already made up its mind, they don’t want him.
Legal representatives and Lovett’s management met with the club at a meeting under the AFL Collective Bargaining Agreement’s (CBA) grievance procedure.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon was at the grievance tribunal but says he is still unsure how long the process will take. Citing the important legal issues he then refused to make any further comment when probed by the media. Fair enough. But you have to admit it sounds like Lyon has already taken Lovett’s name off the whiteboard.
He wasn’t even included in the official St Kilda team photo in Melbourne’s Herald-sun newspaper recently, what kind of statement is that?
The 26 year old is in grave danger of becoming completely ostracised from the playing group, if he isn’t already! The word from the inner sanctum is Lovett has made several attempts to contact senior players but had little response.
Now, I understand having a teammate under a criminal investigation is serious and this is a really tough decision for any club to make, but the longer the Saints leave it, the longer the odds are Lovett will play in the red white and black.
The AFL Players Association believe the suspension to be manifestly excessive, particularly in that Lovett is unable to apply his trade whilst he is yet to be charged.
Even if he is, what happened to being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?
What happens if he is charged, St Kilda sack him, but then he is found not guilty? It seems the court of public opinion at St Kilda has already reached its verdict. Lovett is more trouble than he’s worth and its time to cut their losses and cut him loose.
If axed, the Saints stand to lose pick 16 for nothing and possibly a lot of money as well, with Lovett signing a three year contract. But they did pick him up in trade week knowing full well he was twice suspended in 2008 for off field indiscretions at his former club Essendon.
Just six weeks after joining the Saints, he was then arrested for being drunk in a public place. After that incident, Lyon said it wasn’t “the end of the world”, although the club would not be “babysitting” its players. Again fair enough, these guys are grown men and need to take responsibility for their actions.
Adding to the frustration is the timing. St Kilda is on the march towards a first flag in 45 years, winning the minor premiership last year and narrowly losing the grand final to Geelong, never has the club been in a better position for the ultimate success.
The Saints NAB Cup campaign kicks off next week against Collingwood, this should be when the speedy recruit is learning the game plan, not waiting to learn if he’ll ever play again.
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