Lovett was sacked by St Kilda football club this week, 24 hours after being charged with rape.

The club claims the sacking is not related to the rape charges but is instead the result of a series of poor judgements made off the field.

For his part, Lovett has said he will pursue the club for breach of contract. That is, of course, his right, as it is for anyone who feels they have been wrongly sacked.

Footballers are effectively in the employ of their club and deserve to be treated as fairly as any worker in any other environment.

Unlike most employees, though, a league footballer's life can be very public.

Transgressions - especially a series of them - have the potential to affect the reputation of a club.

Like all footballers, Lovett needs to remember that football skills alone won't get him through life.

If his own reputation, brought about only by his own actions, threatens to damage the St Kilda club, it shouldn't come as a surprise that it would wish to be rid of him.

Too often we lament that footballers are not treated harshly enough when they err.

This is one instance where are club has decided that its reputation is worth more than the skills an individual might bring to a team.

St Kilda took a risk in drafting Lovett and, rape charges aside, has been disappointed with his off-field attitude.

It is a decision the club is no doubt now regretting.