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Ex-Essendon player convinced supplements harmed his daughter

Nathan Lovett-Murray in action for Essendon.

Nathan Lovett-Murray in action for Essendon. Photo: Getty

Former Essendon defender Nathan Lovett-Murray believes there is “no doubt” the club’s controversial supplements saga has harmed his daughter.

Lovett-Murray, who played 145 matches for the Bombers between 2004 and 2013, was one of the 34 past and present Essendon players to serve a drug ban in 2016.

He says his daughter, Harmony, 3, has an unknown growth on her chest and suffers behavioural problems – something he is adamant is a result of the Essendon drugs regime.

Consequently, Lovett-Murray is reportedly preparing a $1 million Supreme Court damages claim against the club.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the injection program we were put through has had some impact on my daughter,” Lovett-Murray told the Herald Sun.

“It’s something I think about every day.”

The 34-year-old said the fact he still does not know what he was administered during the infamous episode at Essendon is causing him issues.

“What were we taking? We’re still unsure what we were being given,” he added.

“And how is that going to affect my health and also my children’s health?”

Lovett-Murray also said the costs were starting to mount in regards to his daughter’s health.

“There have been health concerns [with my daughter] and we have seen some specialists,” he said.

“There are some behavioural things that we are concerned about, and there was a hole in her chest that was leaking mucus, and we still don’t know what it is.

“They’ve got to do more tests, but those tests cost more money.”

Essendon released a statement in response to Lovett-Murray’s claims, offering their support to the former defender.

“After Nathan’s management raised concerns with regard to this matter in the first half of 2016, the club offered its support on various occasions,” they said.

“The club has not heard anything further from Nathan or his management on this matter for almost a year now, but remains committed to supporting him in any way possible.

“Nathan’s claim is being dealt with in an identical framework and process to that of the other 33 players … the club has now settled 31 of these claims and is making every attempt to bring all claims to a conclusion in a timely and appropriate manner.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan shared a similar view, offering Lovett-Murray assistance after a “challenging” period for former Essendon players.

“If there’s broader support or medical support [beyond his compensation claim] we will provide whatever we can,” McLachlan told 3AW Radio on Friday.

“We’ve been talking to his [Lovett-Murray’s] management and I think the right area of focus in any help we can is to make sure that Nathan’s little child is OK and that’s the priority and the focus here.”

The aftermath of Essendon’s supplements saga has been significant, with ex-coach James Hird suffering from mental health issues.

In 2013, the club was fined $2 million, kicked out of that year’s finals series series and stripped of draft picks, while Hird himself was banned from coaching for 12 months.

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