Shane Loveless
Encyclopedia
Shane Loveless is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Footscray
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Loveless is best known as a prolific full-forward
in country football, mostly for Victoria clubs, starting at Latrobe Valley Football League club Sale. He would continue playing across the state until the age of 46, by which time he had amassed over 2000 goals, from no less than 16 clubs.
Arriving at Footscray from Sale, Loveless put together just two games in the 1979 VFL season
but became their regular full-forward in 1980. He had his best run of form mid-season, with eight goals in a win over Fitzroy
and another seven against South Melbourne
the following week. Another eight goal haul came soon after, against Hawthorn
at Western Oval, and he finished the year with 44 goals. It was not enough to top Footscray's goal-kicking, which went yet again to Kelvin Templeton
. With Loveless spending the season in the goalsquare, Templeton had been used as a centre half-forward
and won the 1980 Brownlow Medal
. Loveless was however Footscray's equal leading goal-kicker in 1981, with Jim Edmond
on 25 goals, as Templeton was injured for most of the year. In 1982 Footscray recruited WAFL star Simon Beasley
, who took one of the club's key-forward positions. As a result, Loveless was stuck in the reserves and despite good performances, was not able to earn a call-up to the seniors and decided to leave the VFL.
He was recruited by Glenorchy
for the remainder of their 1982 Tasmanian Football League
campaign. A four week suspension for striking Ray Riewoldt, uncle of AFL players Jack
and Nick Riewoldt
, meant he would play only a few TFL games.
For the rest of his career, Loveless was constantly on the move, setting new goal-kicking records as he went. He twice kicked 25 goals in a league game and managed to top 100 goals in a season on seven occasions. Back at Sale in 1986, he participated in their only premiership of the decade, one of five premiership teams that he played in.
His complete list of clubs are Sale, Footscray, Glenorchy, Tatura
, Kyabram
, Nambrok, Gunbower, Casterton, South Gambier, Apsley, Kerang Rovers, Colbinabbin, Ardmona, Nagambie, Heyfield and Boisdale-Briagolong.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL).
Loveless is best known as a prolific full-forward
Full-forward
Full-forward is a position in Australian rules football and Gaelic football with a key focus on kicking goals.Leading full-forwards of the Australian Football League are usually among those awarded with the Coleman Medal for the most goals in an AFL season....
in country football, mostly for Victoria clubs, starting at Latrobe Valley Football League club Sale. He would continue playing across the state until the age of 46, by which time he had amassed over 2000 goals, from no less than 16 clubs.
Arriving at Footscray from Sale, Loveless put together just two games in the 1979 VFL season
1979 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1979.-Grand final:Carlton defeated Collingwood 11.16 to 11.11 , in front of a crowd of 112845 people...
but became their regular full-forward in 1980. He had his best run of form mid-season, with eight goals in a win over Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
and another seven against South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
the following week. Another eight goal haul came soon after, against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
at Western Oval, and he finished the year with 44 goals. It was not enough to top Footscray's goal-kicking, which went yet again to Kelvin Templeton
Kelvin Templeton
Kelvin Templeton is a former Australian rules footballer. At sixteen years of age Templeton kicked 100 goals for Traralgon in the 1973 Latrobe Valley FL season...
. With Loveless spending the season in the goalsquare, Templeton had been used as a centre half-forward
Centre half-forward
In Australian rules football, the centre half-forward is a position on the half-forward line of a football field. The directly opposing player is a Centre-Half-Back....
and won the 1980 Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
. Loveless was however Footscray's equal leading goal-kicker in 1981, with Jim Edmond
Jim Edmond
Jim Edmond is a former Australian rules footballer.Debuting in the Victorian Football League in 1977, Edmond was the former captain of Footscray Football Club between 1983 and 1985. He also won the goalkicking in 1981 with 25 goals...
on 25 goals, as Templeton was injured for most of the year. In 1982 Footscray recruited WAFL star Simon Beasley
Simon Beasley
Simon Beasley is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League .Recruited from Swan Districts in the WAFL, Beasley moved to Melbourne in 1982 to pursue his career as a stockbroker, and signed with Footscray in the VFL...
, who took one of the club's key-forward positions. As a result, Loveless was stuck in the reserves and despite good performances, was not able to earn a call-up to the seniors and decided to leave the VFL.
He was recruited by Glenorchy
Glenorchy Football Club
The Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
for the remainder of their 1982 Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
campaign. A four week suspension for striking Ray Riewoldt, uncle of AFL players Jack
Jack Riewoldt
Jack Riewoldt is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing for Richmond in the Australian Football League.-Early life:Riewoldt was born in Hobart, Tasmania to parents Chris and Lesley Riewoldt. He has two younger brothers, Harry and Charlie Riewoldt. He is the cousin of Nick...
and Nick Riewoldt
Nick Riewoldt
Nick Riewoldt is an Australian rules footballer who is the current captain of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League . He was the first draft selection in the 2000 AFL Draft.-Early life:...
, meant he would play only a few TFL games.
For the rest of his career, Loveless was constantly on the move, setting new goal-kicking records as he went. He twice kicked 25 goals in a league game and managed to top 100 goals in a season on seven occasions. Back at Sale in 1986, he participated in their only premiership of the decade, one of five premiership teams that he played in.
His complete list of clubs are Sale, Footscray, Glenorchy, Tatura
Tatura Football Club
The Tatura Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Goulburn Valley Football League.-External links:*...
, Kyabram
Kyabram Football Club
The Kyabram Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Goulburn Valley Football League . They are based in Kyabram, Victoria.Kyabram were a foundation club in the GVFL and have been one of the most dominant...
, Nambrok, Gunbower, Casterton, South Gambier, Apsley, Kerang Rovers, Colbinabbin, Ardmona, Nagambie, Heyfield and Boisdale-Briagolong.