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MELBOURNE'S decision not to recruit Jake Lovett as a father-son selection at this month's NAB AFL Draft has not deterred the teenager from pushing to one day represent the club.
Jake's father Brett Lovett was a gun half-back who sits 10th on the Demons' all time games record list, having played 235 matches between 1986-97.
His teammate in the 80s and 90s Todd Viney, who is now the Demons' list manager, was the person left to deliver the news to the younger Lovett that he wouldn't join the club this year.
The 18-year-old was told the Demons didn't have a rookie spot opening in 2016 and they hadn't seen enough good form to justify taking him in the Draft.
"That hurt, it definitely hurt, but at the same time it's going to give me a lot of will and push and they gave me a lot of feedback," Lovett told AFL.com.au.
"I wasn't expecting much from Melbourne but me and my family were thinking maybe a rookie spot.
"I'd been talking to Melbourne for the past three to four years and we'd been catching up regularly.
"We just thought a rookie spot would be almost guaranteed this year."
Lovett's 2015 with Dandenong in the TAC Cup wasn't as good as it could have been after a strained glute kept him sidelined for nine weeks at the start of the year.
The tough inside midfielder found form in the second half of the season but still didn't hit what he believes is his standard.
A natural footballer who understands the game inside out, Lovett has focused on building his endurance this year with a series of programs designed by the Demons.
He's been in a hyperbaric chamber and each week is now completing two 8km runs and two 6am boxing sessions.
"I know I've done the work but (the endurance gains) are coming slowly," he said.
"That's always been a huge thing about me, ever since I was introduced to time trials."
There is one other club that has shown interest in Lovett, but if he doesn't find an AFL home this year he will join Melbourne's VFL affiliate, the Casey Scorpions, for 2016.
It's an opening that will allow him to work with Melbourne's coaches with a view to joining the Demons – or another AFL club – ahead of the 2017 season if he can show enough form at VFL level.
"Melbourne has always said if it happens that I don't get drafted then I can have a spot at Casey and they'll treat as one of theirs," he said.
"That's a great opportunity and I know when I get in the right environment I'll do the work."
