Kieran Lovell of Tasmania is a natural ball winner, despite his small frame

STANDING at just 174cm, Tasmania’s Kieran Lovell understands the reservations that recruiters may have when November’s national draft arrives.

STANDING at just 174cm, Tasmania’s Kieran Lovell understands the reservations that recruiters may have when November’s national draft arrives.

In an era where tall midfielders like Nat Fyfe, Scott Pendlebury and Josh Kennedy are becoming coveted, Lovell acknowledges that every aspect of his game must be flawless to clear those doubts.

But, in the midst of an ultra-consistent season, Lovell has already gone some distance to proving his AFL credentials. He’s letting his numbers do the talking.

Averaging 32.5 disposals per game from four TAC Cup matches this year, Lovell began his national championships campaign with 42 touches in a thrilling Division 2 victory over NSW/ACT.

He racked up another 29 disposals in Tasmania’s heavy defeat to Queensland last week and is averaging 8.3 clearances and 5.5 tackles per game, with his ability to kick off both feet impressing Tasmania’s coaches.

“I’m using it (his size) as a positive,” Lovell tells Fox Footy. “It certainly gives me different attributes; it makes me quick and agile.

“It can be a bit of a disadvantage. I’ve got to tick all the boxes if I’m a chance to get picked up in November, which makes it a bit hard, but I’m using it as a positive.”

Kieran Lovell during the Under 18s National Championships last week.

Despite Lovell’s elite ability to find the footy, it’s his willingness to learn, adapt and develop that may still prove his greatest asset to recruiters.

It’s certainly a personality trait that his coach at Tasmania, Adam Sanders, has been impressed by throughout the course of the year.

“When you’re that size, you just have to make sure you’ve got no gaps in your game,” Sanders tells Fox Footy.

“I’m sure he’d love to be another 10cm taller, but he’s got a strong body. If you’re that size, you’ve got to be very good in a lot of areas and his speed and agility is great, his endurance is good.

“People will look at his size and say that he’s too small, but you should overlook that, because he can genuinely play the game.”

Pinpointing senior footballers of similar build to learn from is difficult for someone of Lovell’s size. And while North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey is an obvious role model, it’s Fremantle’s Lachie Neale who the 18-year-old has learnt the most from.

“He’s a smaller sort of inside mid, which I can be,” Lovell says.

“I try and watch all of the tricks that players like Neale, Harvey and Sam Mitchell have. They’ve got a lot of tricks and skills that they can use to win the ball and use the ball.

“I try and learn off every game I watch.”

More than half of Kieran Lovell’s possessions have been contested throughout the national championships.

Another chance Lovell is bound to take in front of recruiters will come at the draft combine in October.

When last tested, the Tasmanian ran 14.9 in the beep test and recorded times of 2.99 seconds in the 20m sprint and 7.98 seconds in the agility test — elite for his age group.

“Even though he’s small in stature, he’s a very good all-round athlete; terrific speed and agility but he’s also got good endurance,” Sanders says. “He’s got a good power base, so his vertical jump measures up pretty well as well. He’s got some nice attributes.”

Of course, those attributes all contribute to his innate ability to find and win the ball so often.

“His ability to win the ball in different situations is very good,” Sanders continues.

“As a junior, he was a bit more of an outside player — a short, stocky-type player and he was able to read the ball very well.

“We’ve been working on his game to get a bit more balance between winning the contested ball, but also being able to use his speed, ability and endurance on the outside.”

A Richmond supporter as a boy, some may say it could written in the stars for Lovell to now join the likes of Matthew Richardson and Jack Riewoldt as Tasmania’s favourite Tigers.

“I think that would be good,” he says with a smile. “(Moving interstate) would be a good opportunity and I would be rapt to be picked up anywhere. It would be awesome.”

Originally published as Kieran Lovell of Tasmania is a natural ball winner, despite his small frame