DOB: 28 July 1970
Debut: Round 3, 1988 against Geelong at MCG
Last MFC Game: Round 22, 1995 against Brisbane Bears at Gabba
From: Glenorchy/Melbourne High School, Selection #42, 1986 National Draft
Number: 16 (1988-1995)
Honours:
Best First Year Player - 1988
Grand Final team - 1988
Tasmania state player - 1991, 1993
Games: 121 (164 total)
Goals: 146 (166 total)
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
59 | 1 | 61 | 48.76 |
Known as "Chopper" due to his teenage career as a wood-chopping champion, Anthony 'Andy' Lovell won a premiership during his two seasons of senior football at Glenorchy, before being picked up by Melbourne in the 1986 National Draft. The tough on-baller's first season was a learning experience, and he only played two Reserves games. He debuted early the next year, goalling with his first kick and scoring the match-winning goal on debut. By the end of a season where he'd also played school football with Melbourne High School, he appeared in a Grand Final.
Expecting to build on the 22 games of his rookie season, Lovell's 1989 year was destroyed by a leg injury, having to wait until round 21 to play his only senior match for the season. He managed twelve games the next season but didn't play after round 14 - missing Melbourne's run into the finals. 1991 was another disappointment, despite winning state selection for Tasmania, he didn't play until Round 5, then appeared twice more in the middle of the year, before being recalled for the finals. He was a surprise call-up for the Elimination Final, and as a foil for the eight goal Allen Jakovich, Lovell kicked a then career-high four goals.
After saving his career with that finals performance, Lovell played 19 games in 1992 and finished second in the Best and Fairest. From then on he was a fixture in Melbourne's side, signing a new contract before 1993 and playing 18 games. He kicked a career-best eight goals against Richmond in round 21 of that season, 24 in 1994 and 20 in 1995 before being swapped to West Coast for Craig Turley. In the 1995 pre-season, Lovell became the first player to be reported (and subsequently suspended) on video evidence.
Lovell spent three years at the Eagles before retiring. He only missed one game in his first year but struggled after the death of his father in 1997 and made just four appearances in 1998 before retiring.
Lovell served as an assistant at West Coast and coached WAFL side East Perth in 2003 and 2004. In 2006 he joined Geelong as an assistant coach, and coached Melbourne's VFL affiliate Sandringham from 2008 to 2010. He joined Gold Coast as an assistant in their inaugural 2011 season, staying with them until 2018.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1988 | 22 | 23 | 0 |
1989 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
1990 | 12 | 17 | 3 |
1991 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
1992 | 19 | 26 | 3 |
1993 | 18 | 21 | 7 |
1994 | 24 | 29 | 2 |
1995 | 20 | 24 | 4 |
Match | Charge | Sanction | |
1995 Ansett Cup Round 1 | Striking | 2 matches |
Lists
Goal with their first kick
Indigenous Players
Interstate recruits
Interstate Representatives
West Coast
Media
Age - 04/07/1989
Age - 13/01/1994
Age - 08/03/1995
Links
Australian Football Wiki profile
Demonwiki image gallery
Eaglepedia profile
Eagles Flying High profile
WAFL stats
Wikipedia profile