BomberBlitz: For those that aren’t aware, talk us through your journey so far!
Nathan Lovett-Murray – As a junior I started playing in Heywood, in Western Victoria. From there I went on to join under 18’s for North Ballarat in the TAC cup, which meant having to travel twice a week to Ballarat. Then Richmond asked me to try out for their rookie list
BB: Which year was this?
NL-M: This would be… the start of 2001. Richmond didn’t pick me up, and I ended up on the rookie list at Collingwood instead. Played a few games for the Collingwood reserves, Williamstown, then Collingwood delisted me at the end of the year, and I stayed at Williamstown the following season on the VFL list. At the end of 2002 I went up to Darwin and played for St Mary’s
BB: And they have a different season to the AFL don’t they?
NL-M: yeah, it’s a summer comp. So played there, and went back to Heywood at the start of the 2003 season. Played two games, then got a phone call from Michael Long, offering me the Michael Long Scholarship, which took me to Bendigo to play in the VFL. At the end of 2003 I was asked to try out for the Essendon rookie list, and spent two years on that before I got onto the senior
list.
BB: And you were close to going onto the senior list after one year weren’t you?
NL-M: Yeah, but Sheeds asked if I’d consider staying on the rookie list for another year, so that they could take another player in the pre-season draft.

BB: Which was very much appreciated by the club. Had you received any other offers from other clubs at that time?
NL-M: No, I hadn’t.
BB: What was your experience at the Collingwood reserves like?
NL-M: Well, it was the first time I’d been at an AFL club, and it showed me how professional you had to be. Was really good.
BB: Are you still in touch with any of the guys from there?
NL-M: Yeah, have a chat to them each time we play. Good mates with Leon Davis.

BB: Who did you go for when you were a youngster? Who were your idols?
NL-M: I went for the Kangaroos, and Wayne Carey was my favourite player! Dad was a North supporter and it just followed from there.

BB: Which position do you prefer to play in – forward or defence?
NL-M: Probably HBF, but I don’t mind going forward, kicking a goal!

BB: You have added marking into your defensive game beautifully this year, has it been something you have really worked hard on introducing? What other areas of your game are you working on the hardest?
NL-M: Yeah I started working hard during pre-season– particularly in ground balls, marking.
BB: What sort of exercises are there that focus on marking? We’ve seen the contested marking at training…
NL-M: Mainly that, and sometimes we’ll get the marking bag out with Ady (Ady Schwegler)
BB: chuckles the speccy bag!
NL-M: grins yep, the speccy bag!

BB: And there’s the short range work with Hoops? (Colin Hooper)
NL-M: Yeah, to help with the one grab skills.

BB: You’ve taken on the role vacated by Sean Wellman, that of the half back sweeper. Is that a conscious thing? If so, have you studied tapes of Wellman’s games to get some idea of how to play this role?
NL-M: When Welly was still here, I did watch him a fair bit – playing that HBF role. Watch Adam McPhee too, similar role. And Fletch, who’s just the master in defence. Try to take a bit of each into my game!

BB: At the moment you’re serving a three match suspension for striking. How do you compensate fitness wise for the match time?
NL-M: Quinn takes us through match simulation on a Saturday morning – running, tackling, trying to do the physical stuff we’d be doing in a game. Plus I’m doing a bit of extra boxing, bike riding.

BB: What are the worst injuries you’ve suffered so far?
NL-M: When I was on the rookie list at Collingwood, I fractured my foot the first week I was there, which put me out for about four months
BB: Which bone? Was it the navicular like Hirdy’s?
NL-M: No, it was the sesamoid bone.
BB: In which foot?
NL-M: In the…. thinks left foot! So that kept me out for a while, and I got back and played a few games then fractured it again towards the end of the season
BB: Does it still give you any trouble now?
NL-M: Occasionally it gets sore. But the club are really good, they keep a close eye on it and are quick to adjust my training routine if it does start playing up.

BB: Describe the way you feel when you are playing football; do you have a lot of adrenaline running through you; are you nervous, calm, excited?

NL-M: The first year, I guess, I was nervous – got a bit too pumped up before each game. In the last year, I’ve concentrated on being calmer, not too over excited… will listen to some music, stay quiet.
BB: Do you have particular routines or superstitions before a game?
NL-M: Not really… just like to keep a similar routine, see the trainers, listen to music, that sort of thing.
BB: But no problems with touching the banner, running out last, anything like that?
NL-M: grins no, none of those!

BB: We were impressed by the story of your family and their contribution to the history of Australia in the lead up to ANZAC Day. Was your preparation in any way different from normal because it was such a big match?
NL-M: Probably was. When the journalist first rang me and said he was going to do the article, I did a bit of research, talked to Mum and Dad, found out some details about my family and the connection with Anzac Day. So yes, I probably did want to play well for my family. Plus it’s against Collingwood, and after playing there, you always want to play well against them!

BB: You’ve just passed the 50 game mark. Which game are you the most proud of so far and why?
NL-M: Probably Anzac Day. Even though we lost. I played ok, and it was just awesome, running out in front of 90,000 people.

BB: How do you think you would go, if you had to play against your cousin Andrew?
NL-M: laughs would be a good match up – he’s pretty fast! I’d get into him a bit, get in his face, he probably wouldn’t like it!

BB: Are there any other Lovett-Murray’s up-n-coming??
NL-M: Yep, my brother, Tyson. He’s 17. He’s got a scholarship at St Patricks in Ballarat, so he’s playing school footy, and is in the development squad for the North Ballarat Rebels.
BB: St Patricks – is that the same school Carts was at?
NL-M: Yes

BB: And what sort of player is Tyson? What sort of build – similar to you?
NL-M: nods plays HBF, HF
BB: Good, we’ll have to keep an eye out for him!

BB: You have pace to burn, how do you compare pace wise with the other players at the club? How fast can you run 100m in?
NL-M: Not sure about 100m. My best time for the 20m sprint is…. I think… 2.91 seconds… Andrew and the other fast guys run about 2.80
BB: pretty damn quick!

BB: Nowadays, who are the people you most look up to – both on and off the field?
NL-M: Rioli – he’s been a role model, mentor for me since I came to the club. And have to say Hird, just how he goes about his game, his dedication

BB: And off the field?
NL-M: My uncles, back in Heywood – they’re keen footballers, and good community members too.

BB: If you could pick one player from another team to join Essendon (leaving aside contracts, salary caps etc) who would it be?
NL-M: Adam Goodes – he can play forward, back, middle, ruck, so versatile

BB: And on the subject of opposition players, if you could make any opposition player you wanted look foolish by taking a massive hanger over them, who would it be?
NL-M: grins I’d have to say the same – Adam Goodes!!

BB: You recently did some clinics in Tasmania. Is the promotional/motivational aspect something you enjoy?

NL-M: Yeah, I do enjoy the clinics, teaching footy to the kids. Cyril and I did the ones in Tassie.
BB: Who were they for?
NL-M: Those ones were with Tassie Sports Camps. I also work with the On the Ball Program.

More info about the On the Ball Program can be found here: http://www.essendonfc.com.au/community/ontheball.asp

BB: What are your interests outside of footy? Do you study or work part time?
NL-M: I work part time, with Sports Health Check, talking to the young people at the Juvenile Justice Centre at Parkville.

BB: Are they a receptive audience? What age group is it?
NL-M: Yeah, they love it, really keen. They’re in the 15-17 yr old age group. I talk to them about correct techniques for training, lifting weights, diet advice, that sort of stuff.

BB: What’s Paddy been like as a housemate? Are there any steps we could be taking to make sure he wants to stay in Victoria and not head back home?!
NL-M: grins He’s great. Really quiet, keeps to himself. He’ll be a great player.

BB: If the United Nations asked you to intervene in the global political crisis surrounding Iran’s nuclear research program, how would you resolve the issue?
NL-M: stunned look ummm…. I have no idea! Umm… thinks get them all at a table to talk things out… no, actually, get them out on the footy field for a game of footy!
BB: laughing and who would be the umpire?
NL-M: chuckling Sheeds!

BB: Should anybody who calls you Nay-Lo be killed on sight?!
NL-M: laughing YES!

BB: Tell us the origin of the nickname “Nat Rat”!
NL-M: I have an uncle, who got lost in the bush one day, and they started calling him Bush Rat. And when I was born, apparently I looked a lot like him, so they called me Nat Rat!

BB: If you were to be reincarnated as an animal, which one would you want to be and why?
NL-M: Ummm.. an eagle… I’d love to be able to fly

BB: Are you a cinnamon, iced or jam centred type donut man?
NL-M: chuckles Cinnamon

BB: If you could hold a Guinness World Record, what would it be for?
NL-M: the most money!

BB: What music do you listen to?
NL-M: Hip hop, rap… some Country and Western
BB: So what’s on your iPod at the moment?
NL-M: Tupac, 50 cent, that sort of thing!

BB: What would the “Nathan Lovett-Murray” theme song be?
NL-M: Black Boy – Coloured Stone

BB: If someone made a film of your life, who would you like to play the lead role?
NL-M: Denzel Washington
BB: Mmmmm, very nice!

BB: Three words to describe yourself?
NL-M: ummm… Quiet…. smart…. skilful

BB: What is your favourite colour M&M?
NL-M: Yellow!
BB: Oooh, very good, no one’s said yellow yet!
NL-M: chuckles I haven’t eaten them in years. Are there even yellow M&M’s?!
BB: grins yes, there are!

BB: Do you think milk should be added to instant coffee prior to boiling water or after?
NL-M: chuckling again I don’t drink coffee!

BB: Shorts or pants man?
NL-M: Depends on the weather! Probably… shorts

BB: Shoes or thongs?
NL-M: Shoes

Word associations!

James Hird – Legend
Lake Condah – Home!
Hugh Hefner – Playboy
Collingwood – Exciting games
Kepler Bradley – Funny
Dick Reynolds – Superstar
Boxing – Mundine
Injuries – Sore foot
The Phantom – Motivational speaker!
Gary O’Donnell – Smart
J-Lo – Nice bum!
Rookies – More money
Michael Long – Role model
Kevin Sheedy – Out there!

BB: And that’s all the questions. Thanks heaps Nathan!
NL-M: No worries!