THE AFL Players' Association says it is 'extremely disappointed' with St Kilda's decision to sack Andrew Lovett on Tuesday.
A day after Lovett was charged with one count of rape, the Saints terminated the 27-year-old's three-year contract on the grounds that he had failed to comply with the club's standards of expected behaviour on a number of occasions.
Lovett was suspended indefinitely by St Kilda on Christmas Eve after a woman levelled sexual assault allegations against him.
He lodged a grievance notice with the Saints earlier this month over the suspension.
AFLPA CEO Matt Finnis said the grievance procedure should have been allowed to run its full course.
"The AFL and AFLPA have agreed to a grievance resolution procedure which seeks to resolve disputes between players and Clubs in good faith," Finnis said.
"We expect that clubs and players will respect this procedure and use their best endeavours to resolve issues between them via this system."
"St Kilda's decision is, in our view, inconsistent with this principle and has the potential to undermine the commitment of players to the established codes and procedures for dealing with disciplinary matters and disputes within the AFL industry."
"AFL players are employees, and AFL clubs are workplaces. Notwithstanding the nature of their work or their profiles, AFL players ought be able to rely upon basic principles of fairness and due process before being subjected to disciplinary action."
"We have serious concerns as to whether Andrew's legal rights have been respected and will further consult with his legal representatives to address this concern in coming days."
Meanwhile, AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said in a statement that the league would leave the matter in the hands of St Kilda.
"This is a contractual matter between St Kilda and Andrew Lovett," Anderson said.
"The AFL respects the right of St Kilda to make this decision and we do not intend to interfere in the matter."
ST KILDA has sacked recruit Andrew Lovett a day after he was charged by police with one count of rape.
Saints chief executive Michael Nettlefold said the decision to terminate Lovett's contract was not because of the criminal charge laid against him.
“During Andrew’s short tenure with the Club, on a number of occasions he engaged in actions that were failures to comply with our standards of expected behavioral conduct," Nettlefold said.
"These failures related to his training commitments and a failure to contact Club Officials in a situation where he should have done so."
"We simply could not ignore such breaches. Nor could we ignore the damage being done to St Kilda’s reputation and decided unanimously as a Club to terminate Andrew Lovett’s employment with the Saints."
The former Essendon speedster joined St Kilda on a three-year, $1 million contract during October's trade period.
Just six weeks after the Saints gave up pick 16 in the national draft to acquire Lovett, the 27-year-old was arrested and charged with being drunk in a public place.
Then on Christmas Eve he was accused of raping a Port Melbourne woman after drinking with a teammate at a Richmond Hotel.
St Kilda immediately reacted to the allegations by suspending him indefinitely.
A two-month investigation by detectives from the South Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit resulted in Lovett being charged on Monday.
He will appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon admitted the decision to trade for Lovett had backfired.
"We went through what we believed to be due diligence or research and referencing and at the end of that made a reasonable or unanimous decision - match committee, list management and coaches - to trade (for) Andrew," Lyon said.
"It's easy to sit here in hindsight (and say we shouldn't have recruited him) but I'm certainly not saying it's been a positive outcome."
"As a coach and a team what we need is to focus on our actions and prepare and the AFL season continues but we're one short."
"Undeniably this has been a negative start (to the season). It's not something we could've foreseen."
"You try and prepare for challenges thrown up, this is one that's been put in front of us and that we'll deal with."
"We feel we're mentally strong, a tough group, a resilient group and this will certainly galvanise us.''
The Saints refused to comment on whether Lovett's contract would be paid out.
STAR St Kilda recruit Andrew Lovett has been charged with rape and will face Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday.
The charge comes after detectives from South Melbourne CIU conducted a two-month investigation into allegations made against the 27-year-old in December.
Lovett is currently suspended by the Saints and has lodged an appeal to the AFL's grievance tribunal over his dispute with the club
The troubled speedster played 88 games in five seasons with Essendon before joining St Kilda during last year's trade period.
ANDREW Lovett has lodged an official grievance with the St Kilda Football Club over its treatment of him after a woman made a complaint to the police about an alleged sexual assault in December.
The 27-year-old, who is under police investigation over the alleged incident, was suspended indefinitely by the Saints on Christmas Eve.
St Kilda met with Lovett's management and legal representation on Tuesday and said they would be complying with the AFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement but would make no further comment on the matter.
The Saints gave up pick 16 in the national draft during October's trade week to bring the speedster over from Essendon on a three-year deal but it's uncertain whether he will ever pull on a St Kilda jumper.
The allegations of sexual assault came after Lovett was arrested and charged with being drunk in a public place - just six weeks after being traded to the Saints.
Lovett played played 88 games in five seasons with the Bombers but his time at Windy Hill was marred by a series of off-field indiscretions.
STAR St Kilda recruit Andrew Lovett has been suspended indefinitely by the Saints after a woman levelled sexual assault allegations against the former Essendon speedster.
Victoria Police are currently investigating the alleged incident which reportedly took place in Port Melbourne on Thursday morning.
St Kilda said in a statement they were 'gaining a better understanding of these allegations' and that they were treating the matter 'very seriously'.
"At this time, the club has suspended Andrew Lovett indefinitely. Andrew will not be involved with the club in any shape or form until a further decision is made," the statement read.
"We are informed that when Victoria Police have completed their investigation, they will decide whether or not he will be charged."
"Victoria Police have confirmed that there is no suggestion of improper conduct of any other Saints players."
The allegations come after Lovett was arrested and charged with being drunk in a public place last month - just six weeks after being traded to the Saints.
The 27-year-old has a long history of poor off-field behaviour. In February 2007 he faced court to answer charges that he breached an intervention order taken out by his former girlfriend who claimed he assaulted her
In 2008 he was suspended twice by the Bombers after missing recovery sessions and lost his driver's licence for accumulating demerit points.
Then in June of this year Lovett appeared in court after being charged with driving without a licence.
Lovett played 88 games and kicked 93 goals in five seasons with Essendon.
ST KILDA duo Brendon Goddard and Leigh Montagna have signed new two-year deals with the Saints which will see them remain with the club until at least the end of 2012.
The All-Australian pair played a key role in St Kilda's stellar 2009 season which was only soured by a heartbreaking 12-point loss to Geelong in the grand final.
Saints coach Ross Lyon was delighted that Goddard and Montagna had re-committed to the club.
"Personally I couldn't be happier and it is a great sign of the contentment of the group, where the team is going and where the club is heading," Lyon said.
"I thank the boys for that."
Goddard said he was keen to finish his career as a one-club player.
"In terms of providing some stability, personally, I don't see myself playing footy anywhere else in the next five or six years," Goddard said.
"Hopefully I can stay at St Kilda."
Like Goddard, Montagna wants to be a Saint for life.
"I wouldn't think I would be changing course now. This contract will take me up until I'm 29. As Ross said, hopefully I'll get another contract after that," Montagna said.
"I'll always want to be a St Kilda player."
ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has signed a new three-year deal with the Saints which will see him remain in charge of the club until at least the end of the 2012 season.
Since being appointed ahead of the 2007 season, Lyon has taken St Kilda to ninth, a preliminary final and this year's grand final where they suffered a two-goal loss to Geelong.
Lyon said the board had been 'unwavering' in its support since he joined the club.
"I feel extremely privileged to be coaching at St Kilda and consider it an honour to be presented with the opportunity to lead the club as senior coach for at least another three seasons," said Lyon, who guided the Saints to their first minor premiership in over a decade this year.
"The possibility for this list is to be a great team. My role is to ensure we pursue excellence on a daily basis to give us our best chance of achieving this goal."
Saints chief executive Michael Nettlefold said the club was 'thrilled' that Lyon had put pen to paper.
"Ross has done a remarkable job since arriving at the club, highlighted by a magnificent 2009 season," Nettlefold said.
"He enjoys great respect from the playing group and football department staff and is highly regarded for his work ethic and football knowledge."
"He was fittingly awarded with 2009 coach of the year honours by his peers, which was appropriate recognition for the contribution made to the club and its on-field performance."
FORMER St Kilda skipper Luke Ball and ex-Saints defender Matt Maguire have new homes with Ball being taken by Collingwood with pick 30 in the national draft while Maguire was picked up by Brisbane with selection 91.
Ball spent several matches in the VFL but returned to the side in time to play all three finals, including the 12-point loss to Geelong in the grand final.
The 25-year-old was frustrated with his lack of game time and sought a trade to the Magpies last month but the two clubs were unable to agree to terms.
It prompted Ball to nominate for the national draft.
While Collingwood was keen to secure the services of the hard-nut midfielder, Melbourne Essendon and Brisbane had also shown interest.
But the Demons, Bombers and Lions all opted for younger players, leaving the Magpies
to get their man.
Ball is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Pies.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said the club didn't regret its decision to not trade Ball.
"We wish Luke personally all the best," Lyon said.
"At the end of the day we all move on now and focus on our own resources and players."
Collingwood national recruiting manager Derek Hine said the acquistion of Ball would benefit the youngest members of the club's midfield division.
"The fact we've got a couple of young midfielders in Dayne Beams and Steele Sidebottom, it was a real priority for us to get Ball, also with Shane O'Bree getting towards the end of his career," Hine said.
"It was really about protecting them and Luke will certainly do that."
Taken with pick two in the 2001 national draft, Ball played 142 games for the Saints and earnt All-Australian honours in 2005.
Maguire, who was restricted to just 14 matches between 2007-2008 due to a serious leg injury and stress fractures in his foot, spent all of this year in the VFL as he was unable to break into St Kilda's side.
He was training with Carlton and had met with Hawthorn but it is the Lions who have given him the chance to revive his career which has stalled on 99 AFL games.
Brisbane coach Michael Voss was hopeful Maguire, who recently had the protective rod taken out of his leg, would be able to bolster the Lions' backline.
"For us to be able to have the last live pick and to be able to get someone of Matty Maguire's presence, hopefully he can add a fair bit to our defence," Voss said.
"I know the guys will enjoy playing with him."
Several other players with AFL experience were also picked up. Former Brisbane small forward Rhan Hooper was taken by Hawthorn with pick 58, St Kilda snared injury prone ex-North Melbourne defender Jesse Smith with pick 60 and former Richmond ruckman Adam Pattison with 64 while the Magpies landed ex-Demon Simon Buckley with pick 85.
ST KILDA won't take any action against new recruit Andrew Lovett who was arrested for public drunkenness just under two weeks ago.
Speaking at the club's first full pre-season training session, Saints coach Ross Lyon admitted he was disappointed that the former Essendon speedster had put himself in such a position but said it wasn't 'the end of the world'.
"It's an inauspicious start I suppose and one we would prefer not to be dealing with. I don't really like any negative publicity around the Saints," Lyon said.
"We'd really managed to stay out of these types of incidents."
Lyon said he was confident that St Kilda's environment would help Lovett grow.
"It hasn't had an opportunity to take effect yet in a real sense," he said.
"In the fullness of time we are happy to be judged and Andrew to be judged. Certainly from here he is under no illusions about the requirements and actions he needs to take to earn respect and more importantly earn trust here."
"In simple terms, we're not a babysitting service; we're about self-directed, motivated athletes. Andrew's confident from here that he can buy into that."
Lyon set the record straight on what Lovett was doing on the night he was arrested.
"We're certainly not defending anything, but he certainly wasn't wandering the streets," Lyon said.
"Let's really clear that up, it was reported he was wandering aimlessly. He was at a private party, the music was on, the police came and he was outside."
"He obviously stepped out of line and was put in the divvy van. But he certainly wasn't wandering aimlessly as a hopeless drunk down the street."
NEW St Kilda recruit Andrew Lovett is in hot water after being charged by police with being drunk in a public place on the weekend.
The former Essendon wingman, who was on annual leave, was celebrating his 27th birthday with friends at a private residence in St Kilda when he was arrested early Saturday morning.
The Saints said in a statement that they were 'extremely disappointed' that Lovett had put himself in such a position.
"The club is fully investigating what has taken place and will take appropriate action if and when required," the statement said.
"The matter has now been dealt with by Victoria Police and at this present time no further comment will be made by the club."
Lovett has a history of off-field misdemeanours. In 2007 he was charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend and had an intervention order put against him.
Then in 2008 he was twice suspended by the Bombers for failing to attend training sessions and in June of this year he faced court after being charged with driving while unlicensed.
The Dons traded Lovett to St Kilda in return for pick 16 in the national draft.
FORMER St Kilda skipper Luke Ball has left the Saints and has nominated for the national draft.
The 25-year-old was out of favour at times during 2009, spending several matches in the VFL.
However, he returned to the side in time to play in all three finals, including the grand final loss to Geelong.
Ball had sought a trade to Collingwood during trade week last month but the two clubs were unable to agree to terms.
While the Magpies are still interested in Ball, they don't enter the draft until pick 30, by which time he could be snapped up by Melbourne, Essendon or Brisbane who are all interested in the hard-nut midfielder.
The Saints released a statement on Tuesday saying that thBall had advised them he wanted to continue his career at another club.
"Senior coach Ross Lyon recently met with Ball to reiterate the Saints' interests in retaining Luke and also outlined the improvements necessary for both Luke and the entire St Kilda playing list to again be competitive in 2010. However Luke has now made the decision to pursue his career elsewhere," the statement said.
"While St Kilda is disappointed with Luke's decision, the club believes it has conducted itself appropriately through what have been lengthy and complex negotiations in attempting to find a fair and reasonable outcome for all concerned."
"The club would like to thank Luke for his contribution throughout his eight year career at the Saints."
Ball was taken with pick two in the 2001 national draft and played 142 games for the Saints.
ST KILDA has axed luckless defender Matt Maguire.
Taken with pick 21 in the 2001 national draft, Maguire was the Saints' first choice centre-half-back during the 2004 and 2005 seasons and was a member of the 2004 pre-season premiership team.
But he was never the same player after suffering a broken leg against West Coast at Etihad Stadium in round 18, 2006.
The 25-year-old managed just 14 appearances over the next three seasons - largely due stress fractures in his foot - and was stuck on 99 games throughout 2009.
Maguire's axing comes following the delisting of Irishman Colm Begley and Elijay Connors, the retirements of Jarryd Allen and Max Hudghton and the offloading of Xavier Clarke to Brisbane.
Meanwhile, Zac Dawson has been rewarded for his stellar first year with St Kilda with promotion to the Saints' senior list.
Dawson, who was delisted by Hawthorn at the end of 2008, was a key part of St Kilda's impressive defensive unit this season, playing 23 matches including the grand final.
Luke Miles has also been elevated off the club's rookie list.
IRISHMAN Colm Begley is among five delistings announced by St Kilda on Thursday.
Nineteen-year-old midfielder Eljay Connors and rookies Khan Haretuku, Ross Tungatalum and Sam McGarry were also shown the door.
Begley was recruited to the Saints with pick 83 in last year's national draft after being delisted by Brisbane where he played 29 games between 2006 and 2008.
The 23-year-old managed to feature in just one game for St Kilda - the round 19 win over Hawthorn in Launceston.
Saints coach Ross Lyon said the decision for Begley not to be retained on the club's list was 'mutual'.
"Colm has expressed an interest to return to Ireland to pursue additional interests and we appreciate his efforts at the club during the past 12 months," Lyon said.
Connors was selected with pick 70 in the 2007 national draft but failed to play an AFL game.
TonyK
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