HEYWOOD’S senior football side has received a massive boost with former AFL player Nathan Lovett-Murray signing on for the rest of the 2023 South West District Football League season.

Lovett-Murray, who hails from the region, played 145 games across 10 seasons in the AFL for Essendon Football Club between 2004 and 2013, and is sure to be a major contributor to the side alongside fellow ex-AFL player Leon Davis.

Heywood senior coach Sammy Walsh-Bannam said Lovett-Murray’s decision to commit to the side had come down to both party’s commitment to fostering a strong, family-oriented community.

“His son plays junior footy here… as a club we’re big on family and having parents play (at the same club) as their kids,” Walsh-Bannam said.

“He’s obviously a huge addition on the field… but I think he’ll also give us a great deal of leadership, that’s probably the biggest thing we’re looking forward to getting out of him.”

Lovett-Murray’s signing comes as Walsh-Bannam himself has signed on as senior coach for the 2024 season, in a move he said was also fuelled by his attachment to the club.

“I played all my juniors here… it’s very pleasing that the club has got my back,” he said.

“It’s great to know that the club has got my back as we push forward into the future.”

Walsh-Bannam said his commitment to the group would hopefully help them to set a strong path forward, both for the rest of this season and also into the future.

“That was the biggest thing... being able to say that we’ve got a clear direction for the club,” he said.

“It means we’re not scrambling to find a coach during the offseason, and we can focus on asking the right questions about where we want to get to.”

The Lions are poised to make a strong push for top-three contention in the final portion of the season, currently in fifth spot with a 5-5 record, but only one game behind third-placed Tyrendarra.

“We’re positioned to have a strong run home… we’ve got our focus on all the games ahead but in particular the ones against those sides who we just fell short of in the early stages of the season,” he said.