- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Essendon's Andrew Lovett celebrates a goal during the AFL Round 17 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Richmond Tigers at the MCG. Slattery Images
Many believed Andrew Lovett was finished as an AFL player. Despite his obvious on-field talents, his disobedient off-field antics saw him inevitably sacked by two clubs within a matter of months in 2009.
However, 19 months on, Lovett is on the market again and keen to resurrect his AFL career.
The former Essendon and St Kilda midfielder broke down on Monday, after a County Court jury acquitted him of two counts of rape, and an alternative rape charge. Lovett was accused of raping a woman on St Kilda player Jason Gram’s bed on Christmas Eve, 2009, after a night of drinking.
Lovett maintained his innocence throughout the trial and, in the end, was acquitted of all charges.
Hours later, AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson confirmed Lovett had every right to nominate himself for the draft later this year. And from all reports, he’s keen to finish some business.
But will an AFL club have the guts to pick him up? Will any board be brave enough to give him a third chance?
Maybe the damage he caused the Bombers, the Saints and himself, even before the trail, was excessive and clubs still wouldn’t trust him.
During his time with the Bombers, Lovett created a poor off-field reputation. He missed numerous training sessions, was fined for driving without a license, arrested for being drunk in a public place and was issued a court intervention order in 2006 following an assault on his then girlfriend.
It didn’t take Lovett long to create headaches for the Saints too. Even before the alleged rape incident, there was allegedly underlying problems with certain teammates, which was believed to be the ultimate reason behind his termination.
Perhaps clubs do trust him, but the biggest turnoff could be the fact he hasn’t played at the highest level in two years.
During Fox Sports’ On The Couch on Monday night, former Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos said it’s difficult for any player – no matter how gifted they are – to return to an adequate level of form after a long hiatus.
Lovett played for East Perth in the WAFL during 2010 and has played in the Northern Football League – a metropolitan competition in Melbourne – throughout 2011. But there’s a big difference in class and speed between those two leagues and the AFL.
However, if you go on past occurrences, Lovett has every chance to add to his 88 games and 93 goals at another AFL club in 2012.
A few players have been lucky enough to receive second chances from other clubs in recent years.
There was, of course, Ben Cousins – the self-confessed drug addict, who developed a paparazzi following that rivalled Britney Spears during her darkest days.
He was sacked by West Coast and deregistered by the AFL within a month in 2007. But after the AFL Commission gave him the all clear to resurrect his career in 2008, Cousins returned to play two solid seasons with Richmond, allowing him to retire on a positive note.
Another is Andrew Krakouer.
Following his delisting from Richmond in 2007, he was imprisoned for 48 months the next year after being found guilty of assault with intent to cause bodily harm.
He was released on parole in 2009, played the season of his life in the WAFL in 2010 and was recruited by Collingwood before the start of 2011. Now, after 14 games and 16 goals for the Pies, many are labelling Krakouer the story of the season.
Going on those two cases, there’s certainly hope for Lovett.
So if he is to return to the AFL, which clubs would take a leap of faith and poach him in the draft?
Maybe the AFL’s newest club – Greater Western Sydney – would take the plunge.
It was fascinating to read Giants coach Kevin Sheedy’s column in the Herald Sun on Sunday. The quirky coach wrote: ‘Even a 28-year-old who may think he has only two years left may be better off coming to us’.
A possible hint?
Sheedy is desperate for talent, no matter how much AFL experience a player may or may not have. Maybe one of his ex-players is an answer.
Lovett played under Sheedy for three years during his time at Essendon. Therefore the chance of Sheedy persuading Lovett to join the Giants to provide a genuine x-factor is high.
Don’t underestimate the John Quinn factor either. Quinn is currently the fitness trainer at GWS, but lived with Lovett when both men were with the Bombers.
A new start with a new club. It has merit. It could work.
Perhaps a club like Collingwood could recruit Lovett. The Magpies ooze professionalism, whether it be their coaching system, administration or playing group. In Krakouer, they have proven they can reignite a lost player and they would back themselves to do the same with Lovett.
If Lovett maintained his pace and was able to rediscover his touch from a skills viewpoint, there’s no doubt he could still have a massive influence on the competition.
It’s likely a couple of clubs will give him an opportunity to impress in a few practice games under his belt. And if he finds the footy and shows glimpses of what he produced in the past, surely some clubs will be tempted.
Ultimately, Lovett’s future lies in his own hands.
Playing footy at the highest level seems like the perfect ingredient to help him move on into the next stage of his life. If he’s willing to change his bad boy ways and commit to a club, he could be in business.
Put all off-field incidents aside, it would be great to see Lovett’s talents back out on the ground.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.