Essendon player Nathan Lovett-Murray stabbed
Essendon AFL footballer Nathan Lovett-Murray has been discharged from hospital after surgery for a stab wound to his right bicep.
The 30-year-old Bombers player underwent treatment at the Royal Melbourne hospital after he was allegedly stabbed during an altercation at his girlfriend's home in Melbourne's northern suburbs last night.
Lovett-Murray is expected to make a full recovery and has thanked family, friends and the football community for their messages of support.
"Thank you to everyone for all the support, I am very grateful for all the well wishes,” he said.
"All is well, I’m feeling good and I will now rest up for the next few days and look forward to getting back to training early next week."
Police were called to the incident involving three men on Wright Street, Reservoir, at around 10.10pm on Tuesday night.
It is alleged Lovett-Murray was stabbed during the incident.
One of the men is believed to be his girlfriend's former partner.
Essendon club doctor Bruce Reid released a statement this afternoon, saying Lovett-Murray is expected to make a full recovery and could return to training as early as next week.
"Nathan’s injury was sustained to the inner side of his bicep muscle," he said.
"It is a dangerous area of the body as there are a number of nerves and tendons around the bicep but fortunately he has avoided serious injury.
"He did cut the artery in his arm and as a result has lost a fair bit of blood.
"Most importantly, Nathan will make a full recovery and is expected to resume training next week."
Speaking at a media conference earlier today, Essendon's chief executive Ian Robson said Lovett-Murray was defending himself during an incident involving another man at his girlfriend's home.
"The details we have are limited, but from what we understand it took place at Nathan's girlfriend's house in the early hours of this morning," he said.
"It involved an ex boyfriend. Other than that we're not quite sure.
"Nathan was defending himself, we understand, but the precise sequence of events will now be a matter for the police investigation."
Robson said the incident would have hit Lovett-Murray's teammates hard and also affected the club's build-up to Saturday night's indigenous-themed Dreamtime at the 'G match against Richmond.
Lovett-Murray, who is indigenous, was to be part of the launch of Essendon's Reconciliation Action Plan on Wednesday.
"Nathan would have been a big part of that and a big part of a whole range of activities today in the lead-up to what is a significant cultural event for us in the Dreamtime game, not least a real contender to be selected to play in the game," Robson said.
"This sends a real shiver down everyone's spine.
"Nathan is a much-loved and much-respected member, a real tribal elder in our dressing room.
"I know that our guys will be alarmed but we're wanting to make sure they're as comforted as we are that he's in the best possible hands and will make a full recovery."
Police said a 22-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were both arrested on Wednesday morning after a domestic altercation involving them and a 30-year-old man in Reservoir on Tuesday night.
They were released without charge, pending further investigation.
The midfielder has played 143 games for the Bombers since making his senior debut in 2004.
