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 first played with Hawthorn. He captained their Under 17 scholarship squad, played more than 60 Reserves games, and appeared with the seniors in the 1985 Night Series, but couldn't break into a strong team. After leaving the Hawks, his chance at Melbourne came courtesy of the president of his old side Inverloch, a Demon fanatic and friend of then General Manager Ray Manley. His reference convinced Melbourne to invite Lovett to pre-season in 1986, and Lovett impressed his way into a spot on the list. Despite having axed him from their list, Hawthorn still asked Melbourne for a $5000 transfer fee. After 12 Reserves games, Lovett broke into the senior side, but after waiting so long to play senior football his debut was marred by a broken jaw, suffered in an accidental collision with Leon Harris of Fitzroy. Two years later he was playing state football for Victoria, and played nearly 120 games in a row.
Reserves coach Greg Wells, and John Northey came up with the idea of moving Lovett into defence and the move was a big hit. He spent more than a decade playing on Melbourne's half-back line, and was one of the side's most consistent players. He was runner-up in the 1988 Best and Fairest, and his side's best 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 finished fourth in the Brownlow Medal, just three votes short of a share of the game's highest individual honour. The next two years were a disappointment for Lovett, as he battled injuries and form issues. He bounced back in 1993, cementing his place in the side for the next two years. In 1995 he broke his hand, missed six weeks, then broke the other hand in his comeback gave. After pre-season shoulder surgery in 1996, Lovett played 20 games, and 18 the following year. He retired in May 1998 when it became clear he'd be unable to play at the top level again due to a chronic pelvic injury.
After a brief stint as a specialist coach with the Demons, 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. After two years away from coaching he led Sandringham in 2011, then coached Melbourne's VFL affiliate Casey in 2012. He resigned for person reasons after one year.
Lovett was not related to teammate Glenn Lovett, but was the brother-in-law of 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 |
Tribunal record
| 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, 04/06/1998
Teamworks - Spring 1993
The Demon - 07/1996
demons.com.au - 15/07/2002
Links
Australian Football Wiki profile
Demonwiki image gallery
Profile on melbfc.com.au - 2001
Wikipedia profile