Mail Medal 2018 wrap: How the Lovering family has dominated Kangaroo Island footy for three generations
THE Lovering family nine Mail Medals in Kangaroo Island football, with Rory Lovering this year becoming the sixth family member to add his name to the list. Is this the most decorated clan in SA country footy? See all this year’s Mail Medallists.
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RORY Lovering isn’t exactly sure what Kangaroo Island magic runs through his family bloodline.
“But I definitely heard all that, especially when I was young and coming up — ‘Oh, he’s a Lovering, he’s going to be good’, and stuff like that,” Lovering says.
“I remember it was definitely a thing. But it didn’t worry me too much. Over here it’s country footy, so it’s pretty cruisy.”
In the latest chapter of what is arguably the greatest family dynasty in SA bush footy, the 25-year-old this year became the sixth Lovering to win Kangaroo Island football’s top individual award, the Sunday Mail Medal.
Across three incredible generations, spanning four different clubs, Loverings have now had the Mail Medal draped around their necks a staggering nine times.
There’s John, Rory’s grandfather, who is the most decorated of the group with three Mail Medals in 1959, 1961 and 1962.
Rory’s father, Simon, did not win a medal but his brother, Peter, one of three boys to John, was voted the 1989 league champion.
And John’s brother, Garry, boasts a similarly brilliant branch on the family tree. Garry directly followed John’s back-to-back success by winning the 1963 medal while his sons Brenton (1990 and 1993) and Danny (1982) were also crowned KI footy’s best and fairest player.
“When the Loverings have boys, we get a bit excited at the footy club, don’t worry,” Kingscote club secretary Daniel Butler laughed.
In this generation, the Lovering pedigree stretches beyond just Rory.
One of his cousins, Rhys, joined Rory this year in Kingscote’s drought-busting A Grade premiership, while another cousin, Tate, has been playing under-18s and reserves football for SANFL club South Adelaide.
Lovering, who helps work his father’s farm on Kangaroo Island, concedes his individual success pales next to Kingscote’s 2018 flag — its first since 2002.
“Yeah, 16 years we had to wait,” he says.
“I’d never won a senior premiership — and there’s only five teams over here, so that shows you how bloody hard it is to win one.
“I was really happy to win the Mail Medal, I’ve come second a couple of years.
“But I’ve never really thought about it too much, I just play to win. I’ve got a competitive nature so I just do my best to help my team. The rest takes care of itself.”
In a spectacular league sweep, Lovering’s Hounds made 2018 a year for the record books by winning all three premierships on offer — A Grade, B Grade and colts.
This year’s flag trifecta marked just the second time in Kangaroo Island football that one team had swept the competition, mirroring Kingscote’s same feat in 1974.
“That’s what you play for, so to see all the team-mates and supporters, and how happy they were, it made for a really good year,” Lovering says.
GLITTERING FAMILY TREE
Lovering Mail Medal winners
RORY LOVERING (Kingscote) 2018
BRENTON LOVERING (Wisanger) 1990, 1993
PETER LOVERING (Kingscote) 1989
DANNY LOVERING (Western Districts) 1982
GARRY LOVERING (Nepean Bay) 1963
JOHN LOVERING (Nepean Bay) 1959, 1961, 1962
THE MAIL MEDALLISTS
Adelaide Plains
Plains Producer Medal Jordan Clements (Mallala)
Two Wells 12.11 (83) d Balaklava 6.7 (43)
Barossa, Light & Gawler
Schluter/Sunday Mail Medal Dean Terlich (Tanunda)
Nuriootpa Rovers 12.6 (78) d Tanunda 8.9 (57)
Broken Hill
Lionel Johnston Medal Marc Purcell (South)
South 12.9 (81) d North 9.13 (67)
Eastern Eyre
Sunday Mail Medal Jack Kenny (Eastern Ranges)
Kimba Districts 14.11 (95) d Eastern Ranges 4.11 (35)
Far North
Sunday Mail Medal Ashley Baxter (Hornridge)
Hornridge 12.9 (81) d Roxby Districts 6.4 (40)
Far West
Sunday Mail Medal Jake Warmington (Western United FC)
Western United 19.12 (126) d Koonibba 8.3 (51)
Great Flinders
Sunday Mail Medal Lachie Paech (Cummins Kapinnie)
United Yeelanna 16.13 (109) d Tumby Bay 3.4 (22)
Great Southern
Sunday Mail Medal Michael Ross (Victor Harbor)
Langhorne Creek 15.11 (101) d McLaren 10.17 (77)
Hills Div 1
Sunday Mail Medal Sam Miles (Mt Lofty)
Hahndorf 13.15 (93) d Uraidla 6.10 (46)
Hills Div 2
Sunday Mail Medal Adam Houlahan (Bridgewater-Callington)
Ironbank 14.11 (95) d Kersbrook 9.13 (67)
Kangaroo Island
Sunday Mail Medal Rory Lovering (Kingscote)
Kingscote 6.10 (46) d Western Districts 6.7 (43)
Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara
Virgo/Sunday Mail Medal Tim McIntyre (Mundulla), George Thring (Keith)
Mundulla 8.8 (56) d Keith 8.5 (53)
Mallee
Sunday Mail Medal Alex Stidiford (BDT)
Border Downs/Tintinara 14.17 (101) Karoonda 6.7 (43)
Mid South East
Sunday Mail Medal Daron McElroy (Port MacDonnell)
Robe 9.10 (64) d Mt Burr 9.7 (61)
Mid West
Sunday Mail Medal Mitchell Gum (Wirrulla)
Elliston 9.12 (66) d West Coast Hawks 8.7 (55)
North Eastern
Sunday Mail Medal Gareth Ottens (Blyth/Snowtown)
BSR 8.10 (58) d Blyth/Snowtown 4.7 (31)
Northern Areas
Sunday Mail Medal Campbell Combe (Crystal Brook)
Crystal Brook 10.8 (68) d Orroroo 4.11 (35)
Port Lincoln
Sunday Mail Medal Kingsley Bilney Jnr (Mallee Park)
Tasman 14.9 (93) d Waybacks 7.13 (55)
River Murray
Standard Medal Taite Silverlock (Jervois), Clint Diment (Mypolonga)
Imperials 9.6 (60) d Mannum 8.10 (58)
Riverland Independent
Duthie/Sunday Mail Medal Hayden Lofts (Sedan Cambrai)
Paringa 9.8 (62) d Sedan-Cambrai 8.12 (60)
Riverland
Whillas/Sunday Mail Medal Jake Spencely (Waikerie)
Waikerie 11.13 (79) d Renmark 3.15 (33)
Southern
Sunday Mail Medal Nicholas Mott (Noarlunga)
Flagstaff Hill 21.16 (142) d Reynella 6.6 (42)
Spencer Gulf
Madigan Medal Aziel Stuart (South Augusta)
South Augusta 19.10 (124) d Solomontown 9.9 (63)
Western Border
Brian Hennessy Medal Tom Hutchesson (Millicent)
Millicent 11.10 (76) d East Gambier 11.6 (72)
Whyalla
Sunday Mail Medal Joel Bristow (South Whyalla)
West Whyalla 10.13 (73) d Weeroona Bay 2.4 (16)
Yorke Peninsula
Sunday Mail Medal Alex Kangur (Central Yorke)
Moonta 15.12 (102) d Central Yorke 4.4 (28)