LOVETT-MURRAY, Nathan

Nathan Lovett-Murray is an indigenous Australian and his tribal ancestry can be traced to the Wamba-Wamba and Gunditjmara people. His early career was with Heywood and then North Ballarat Rebels before being rookie listed by Collingwood. He spent 2002 playing with Williamstown, Collingwood's VFL affiliate but was delisted at the end of the year.

He was preparing to play local football when he received a phone call from Michael Long, offering him the Michael Long Scholarship. Seizing this second chance to play AFL football, he moved to Bendigo to play with Essendon's VFL team, the Bendigo Bombers.

He was selected by Essendon with pick 27 in the 2004 Rookie Draft after playing with the Bendigo Bombers and was elevated to the Senior list in 2005. He had an excellent career playing in many roles.

Nathan was appointed coach of the Rumbalara FC for the 2016 season but had to stand down for that year as he was one of the 34 Essendon players suspended due to the 2012 Supplements saga.

He has shown a great commitment to improving the lives of people within Victorian Indigenous communities. One of his first acts was to help in establishing Essendon's Reconciliation Action Plan, a first for an AFL Club. While still playing, he found the time to launch his own Indigenous hip hop label, Payback Records, in 2008.

In 2010, he was awarded the Deadly Award which recognises those who make a resounding difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders every day.

He also played a role in the establishment of the AFL Players’ Indigenous Advisory Board in 2013.

After his retirement, he spent some time coaching local football with the Heywood Lions and Rumbalara Football Netball Club in Shepparton before returning to Melbourne to work part-time as St Kilda’s Indigenous Liaison Officer and as an Indigenous Mentor at Brighton Grammar. He also found time to become an assistant playing coach with the Fitzroy Stars Football Club.

At St Kilda, he produced the club’s Point and Be Proud education program, which is is designed to raise awareness of the ongoing and lasting effects of racism on individual mental health and wellbeing. He was also the Executive Producer of award-winning documentary The Ripple Effect which explores racism in Australia through the eyes of Saints legend Nicky Winmar and other prominent athletes of colour.

In 2023, he joined the Vicsport Board, keen to bring his extensive experience to the Board and further influence the Victorian sport and recreation community.

Nathan Lovett-Murray came from a great sporting background as he is the great-grandson of Sir Douglas Nicholls and the cousin of Andrew Lovett.