Essendon Player Nathan Lovett-Murray to Undergo Treatment after Stabbing Incident on Tuesday
Essendon player Nathan Lovett-Murray figured in a domestic fight on Tuesday night and was stabbed while defending himself at his girlfriend's house in Wright St., Reservoir. One of the men involved in the fight was believed to be his girlfriend's ex-beau.
The 30-year-old footballer is now confined at the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he is scheduled to undergo treatment for the stab wound in his right arm.
Police authorities said they received a call last night at around 10 p.m. after a fight reportedly ensued between Murray and his attackers. On Wednesday morning, the police arrested two men aged 22 and 17, both are now undergoing routine investigation.
At the Bombers press conference held this morning, Essendon CEO Ian Robson expressed shock over the incident saying it "sends a real shiver down everyone's spine." He said Lovett-Murray was a respected and valuable member of the club and they leave it to the authorities to investigate thoroughly into the case.
Mr. Robson admitted that they have very limited information as of the moment and not everyone on the team has been informed of Lovett-Murray's condition.
"It's too early to judge but our advice for now is he will make a full recovery ... the well-wishes of the Essendon family are with Nathan at this very challenging time," Mr. Robson said.
Mr. Robson said more details on Lovett-Murray will be issued as soon as the footballer is released from the hospital. Essondon's welfare manager Ash Brown is keeping a close watch on the footballer while club doctor Bruce Reid is in contact with Royal Melbourne Hospital..
Meanwhile, former Essendon champ Michael Long was also present at the Bombers' press conference and assured that the team would not let the incident affect the club's build-up going into the Dreamtime clash.
Lovett-Murray, who debuted with the Bombers in 2004 and has since played 143 games with the team, is supposed to play this Saturday at the MCG for the Drreamtime game - the main draw of the AFL Indigenous Round
The Essendon ace is an active supporter of the indigenous communities and has been providing assistance to indigenous footballers via the AFL Players' Association.
In 2008, he also put up Payback Records to champion indigenous music more particularly the hip hop genre. He is a nephew of singer-songwriter Archie Roach..
"It keeps me busy outside of football and it's something I want to get into more when I finish playing," he said in an interview with Herald Sun last year.
"I want to help young indigenous people with a voice for hip-hop music, give them an opportunity.''
Lovett-Murray inked a one-year contract deal with Essendon in 2012.