Andrew Lovett was a notable omission from the team sheet for St Kilda's intraclub game, a week out from their opening NAB Cup game.

The Saints have suspended the former Essendon onballer indefinitely and he is now taking the club to the AFL grievance tribunal.

St Kilda suspended him on Christmas Eve, within hours of becoming aware a woman had made a sexual assault complaint to the police.

Lovett has since been under police investigation.

He is set to go before the rarely-used grievance tribunal to argue against his club suspension.

Essendon traded Lovett to the Saints in exchange for their first-round draft pick, No.16.

Within days of joining the Saints, Lovett was arrested for drunkenness, although the charge was later dropped.

Then came the sexual assault complaint and, under the terms of the suspension, Lovett has not been able to train at the club.

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