TonyK
CibbuanoLovett not under threat: Knights
July 15th 2008 06:12
ANDREW Lovett's future at Essendon is not under threat despite Lovett receiving his second suspension this year for disciplinary reasons, according to coach Matthew Knights.
The 25-year old won't be selected for Essendon's critical matches against Richmond and Collingwood after missing a compulsory training session on Monday morning after being out 'socialising' until late on Sunday evening.
The exciting speedster was also suspended from pre-season training in February after missing a training session.
Lovett's latest indiscretion has come at a bad time for the Bombers who have won their past four matches and are an outside chance of playing finals this season.
"The timing is not great at all," a frustrated Knights admitted on Tuesday.
"We already have about 12 players unavailable for this week's game and a lot of the guys unavailable like Courtenay Dempsey and (long-term injury victims) Alwyn Davey and Jason Winderlich are similar type of players to Andrew."
"But we are not going to jeopardise what is best for the football club by making a short term decision to play Andrew."
Despite the latest indiscretion, Knights said Lovett was still a required player at the club.
"This is certainly not the end of him at this football club and we haven't spoken about last chances," he said.
"It's disappointing for Andrew because we know how he loves to play the game and he has been exemplary since his indiscretion earlier in the year in the way he has been training and presenting himself."
"And he has been playing some really good football."
"But it's all about the vision of this club and the culture of this club and we are not going to put him out to represent this club if he doesn't uphold those standards."
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The 25-year old won't be selected for Essendon's critical matches against Richmond and Collingwood after missing a compulsory training session on Monday morning after being out 'socialising' until late on Sunday evening.
The exciting speedster was also suspended from pre-season training in February after missing a training session.
Lovett's latest indiscretion has come at a bad time for the Bombers who have won their past four matches and are an outside chance of playing finals this season.
"The timing is not great at all," a frustrated Knights admitted on Tuesday.
"We already have about 12 players unavailable for this week's game and a lot of the guys unavailable like Courtenay Dempsey and (long-term injury victims) Alwyn Davey and Jason Winderlich are similar type of players to Andrew."
"But we are not going to jeopardise what is best for the football club by making a short term decision to play Andrew."
Despite the latest indiscretion, Knights said Lovett was still a required player at the club.
"This is certainly not the end of him at this football club and we haven't spoken about last chances," he said.
"It's disappointing for Andrew because we know how he loves to play the game and he has been exemplary since his indiscretion earlier in the year in the way he has been training and presenting himself."
"And he has been playing some really good football."
"But it's all about the vision of this club and the culture of this club and we are not going to put him out to represent this club if he doesn't uphold those standards."
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