Over the pre-season Lovett-Murray has worked hard to get fitter and stronger and believes he has made great improvements from 12 months ago. Although being named as a club rookie, Lovett-Murray has already been promoted to the senior list with Courtney Johns on the long-term injury list.
He hopes this added strength and fitness will help him cement a place in the senior side this last year. But more importantly he believes the experience he has recently been gaining at half back will help him become a more versatile commodity in the Bomber line-up.
Last week against the Lions at Carrara, Lovett-Murray played a serviceable game across half back, keeping Jared Brennan quiet for most of the night while collecting 17 disposals himself and taking some solid marks under pressure.
""I took a couple of good marks and did alright in the back line. I probably dropped off a bit in the last quarter."" Lovett-Murray said of his game last week. ""I played a lot of my junior footy in the back line, so I don’t mind playing across the half back line."" he said.
""I think Sheeds likes his players to be versatile, and likes to rotate his players from the back line into the forward line, and he has done that with me. So hopefully this year I can play a little more in the back line.""
""A couple of time last year against Sydney and West Coast I played down back and I probably didn’t go that well, but it was a good opportunity. I am happy to play anywhere, anywhere the coaches put me, I am just happy to get a game. If I have to play across the half back line to get a game then I will play there.""
Tonight when the Bombers take on Geelong in Bendigo, Lovett-Murray again will line up at half back, possibly a reflection of where he may start in Round 1. He is excited about the approaching season and his chance to make a name for himself in the side.
""I want to be ten times better than I was in 2004. I played 20 games last year so I want to play every game this year, and be a bit more consistent and get a little more ground time. And what ever position I play in to make the most of it"" he said.
