Heavy rain in the first quarter and the need for bigger bodies around the contests may have dictated that Lovett watch the first quarter from the bench. But he came on in the second and with the weather clearing up, Lovett’s electrifying pace and skills were on show.
His first touch very nearly created a goal when he crossed the ball to the top of the square where Matthew Lloyd almost converted off the ground. A blistering run through the midfield set up a James Hird goal soon after. He had seven possessions in his first 30 minutes of senior football.
Lovett’s promising debut was capped by a last quarter goal that seemingly had put the game out of the Hawks reach. Lovett swooped on a loose ball about 60m out from goal, put the foot flat to the floor and goaled from 40m out.
""It was a good selection by Kevin as he has got some pace and he can push up into the midfield. He runs the lines, uses the ball and can kick a goal,’ Essendon assistant coach Robert Shaw said. ""At the moment we have to rest him during the match. It was his first senior game and he is coming off VFL football so his body will take some time to get used to the intensity.""
""He is certainly something we are going to be able to work with once he gets his fitness levels where they need to be. But we have been looking for someone with genuine pace to play in the midfield and across half forward. It was a very good effort on debut.""
Shaw said he was impressed with Lovett’s tackling but said there were defensive aspects of his game that he can work on as he learns more about AFL football. The prospect of Lovett and Dean Rioli playing in the Essendon forward line next weekend will have Bomber supporters very excited.
