Andy Lovell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andy Lovell |
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![]() Lovell with Gold Coast in August 2018
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Personal information | |||
Date of birth | 28 July 1970 | ||
Original team | Glenorchy (TFL) | ||
Debut | Round 3, 1988, Melbourne v. Geelong, at the MCG |
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Career highlights | |||
Anthony Lovell (born 28 July 1970) is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the Melbourne Demons and the West Coast Eagles in the top Australian football league, the AFL. After his playing career, Andy became a coach. He is currently an assistant coach for the Gold Coast Suns.
Andy Lovell's Football Journey
Andy Lovell, often called 'Chopper', got his nickname because he was a talented wood chopper as a teenager. His father, Greg, was even a world champion in the sport! Andy also attended Melbourne High School for one year. There, he played football with other future AFL stars like Matthew Knights and Stephen Tingay.
Playing for Melbourne
Lovell started his professional football career with the Melbourne Demons. He was recruited from the Tasmanian club Glenorchy. In his very first season, 1988, he played in the Grand Final. Unfortunately, his team lost to the Hawthorn Football Club.
Andy played as a ruck-rover, which means he was good at getting the ball from contests and moving it forward. He was also great at kicking goals. In a game against the Richmond Tigers in 1993, he kicked an amazing eight goals! Melbourne won that game by a huge 121 points. The year before, in 1992, he came second in Melbourne's 'Best and Fairest' award, which is given to the team's best player.
Moving to West Coast and Coaching
After playing for Melbourne, Lovell was traded to the West Coast Eagles for the 1996 season. He played in their midfield for three years before he retired as a player.
After his playing days, Andy Lovell moved into coaching. He coached the Sandringham Zebras team. Today, he is an assistant coach for the Gold Coast Suns.