DOB: 20 May 1966
Debut: Round 14, 1986 against Fitzroy at Waverley
Last Game: Round 19, 1997 against Western Bulldogs at Princes Park
From: Inverloch/Hawthorn
Number: 50 (1986), 17 (1987-1997)
Honours
Grand Final player - 1988
Life Member - 1995
Victorian state player - 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 (6 games)
150 Heroes selection
MFC Hall of Fame - 2006
Games: 235
Goals: 48
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
121 | 1 | 113 | 51.48 |
Statistical categories led
Most games in jumper 17
A former Victorian Teal Cup player, Lovett was originally recruited by Hawthorn. He captained their Under 17 scholarship squad, played more than 60 reserves games while still eligible for the Under 19s, and was involved in the senior team during the 1985 night series but never managed a VFL game.
After leaving the Hawks his chance with Melbourne came when the president of his old side Inverloch - who just happened to be a Demons fanatic and friend of then GM Ray Manley - convinced them to let him do a pre-season and he impressed his way into a spot on the list. Despite cutting him from their list Hawthorn still asked Melbourne for a $5000 transfer fee
Lovett played just 12 seconds games at Melbourne before breaking into the side but after waiting so long to play senior football his debut was inauspicious, suffering a broken jaw in an accidental collision with Fitzroy's Leon Harris. Two years later he was playing state football for Victoria.
Reserves coach Greg Wells, and John Northey had come up with the idea of moving Lovett into defence and the move was a big hit. He spent more than a decade playing on the half-back line for the Demons and was renowned as one of the side's most consistent players. He was runner-up in the 1988 Best and Fairest, and best on ground in that year's losing Grand Final. Lovett was also named on the half-back flank of the VFL/AFL team of the year in 1988, 1989 and 1990.
In 1990, a year when he was appointed vice-captain, Lovett could have won the Brownlow Medal. Having moved into the midfield successfully he was just three votes shy of Tony Liberatore going into the last game and might have picked up maximum votes, but he didn't and the Bulldog took the medal home.
After that the early years of the 1990's were a disappointment for Lovett as he suffered from injuries and was down on his best form. He bounced back in 1993 and 1994 to cement his place in the side but his output dropped again in 1995 and it looked as if his career was coming to an end
Lovett bounced back with an improved 1996, and played another 18 games in the 1997 wooden spoon side but officially retired from football on May 27, 1998 when it became clear he would be unable to play again due to a chronic pelvic injury.
After a brief stint with the Demons as a specialist coach, Lovett captain/coached Wonthaggi for three seasons from 1999 before spending six years leading Frankston in the VFL. His coaching reign came to an end after the 2008 season when the Dolphins lost a heartbreaking final to Williamstown.
He returned to the VFL as coach of Sandringham in 2011, having spent two years away from coaching, before returning to the Demon fold as coach of Casey Demons in 2012 but only remained with the side for one year, resigning for personal reasons.
Contrary to popular belief Lovett was not in any way related to his teammate of a decade Glenn Lovett. He was, however, brother-in-law to Garry Lyon
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1986 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
1987 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
1988 | 26 | 2 | 10 |
1989 | 24 | 1 | 2 |
1990 | 24 | 7 | 15 |
1991 | 24 | 4 | 3 |
1992 | 20 | 4 | 5 |
1993 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
1994 | 25 | 14 | 6 |
1995 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
1996 | 20 | 9 | 4 |
1997 | 18 | 4 | 0 |
Match | Charge | Sanction | |
Round 6, 1988 | Striking | Not Guilty | |
Round 6, 1988 | Striking | Not Guilty |
Lists
100 Plus Consecutive Games
Interstate representatives
Life Members
Media
Age - 09/09/1990
Age - 04/06/1998
demons.com.au - 15/07/2002