Two former Essendon excitement machines will play one-off matches in the Southern league

Two former Essendon excitement machines with almost 250 games of AFL experience between them are set for a local footy cameo. See the latest.

Doveton Eagles coach Rob Marks called them “a bonus”.

Former Essendon excitement machines Nathan Lovett-Murray and Leroy Jetta will pull on the Eagles’ threads in a pair of one-off cameos.

Lovett-Murray – who played 140 matches with Essendon – will line up for the Eagles in their next game after the league wide King's Birthday bye.

“I have known Nathan for a long time, I watched him grow up and through his AFL days, it’s awesome that they want to come and help out, start rebuilding,” Marks said.

“He brings leadership to show the guys that each guy what it’s about, playing football and enjoying it.

“He said to me: ‘I coached Fitzroy Stars for three years and they were in the same boat; losin’, losin’, losin’ – it’s all good, as long as they’re out there having fun playing the game they love’.

“He was getting fit to do a boxing match and does personal training – he is pretty fit for a 40-year-old.”

Nathan Lovett-Murray and Leroy Jetta

The Eagles tackle competition benchmark South Mornington when Lovett-Murray takes the field, leaving Marks still to decide on where he will play him.

“It’ll be interesting to see how he goes,” he said.

“I might have to chuck him on the big boy at full forward for South Morno and see what he can do on him.”

Leroy Jetta, meanwhile, will play in four weeks’ time during the club’s NAIDOC Week celebration on July 8 against Hampton.–

Jetta, 34, played 93 matches with Essendon before continuing to play footy in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The speedy forward played under Marks in Darwin.