Tom Liberatore's long-term future is uncertain, with the Bulldogs midfielder sidelined indefinitely due to concussion issues.
The 31-year-old midfielder was accidentally kicked in the head by opponent Conor Nash late during the Bulldogs' upset loss to Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium and needed help leaving the field.
Tom Liberatore will be sidelined "indefinitely" after entering concussion protocols for the second time in three weeks.
The concussion occurred when Liberatore copped a stray boot from Hawk Conor Nash. The midfielder also suffered a head knock in the opening minutes of the game in a collision with Karl Amon, but was cleared by medicos to return to the field.
Marcus Bontempelli (353 votes) wins his fourth Charles Sutton Medal as the Bulldogs' club champion for 2021, finishing well clear of midfield mates Jack Macrae (296) and Tom Liberatore (291).
Caleb Daniel wins the Charles Sutton Medal as the Western Bulldogs' best and fairest for the 2020 season.
Daniel finished with 205 votes, ahead of skipper Marcus Bontempelli (195) and Tom Liberatore (160).
"Being voted the best and fairest for the year is something you've obviously dreamed about ever since you started playing footy. To be able to do that in front of my friends and the players that I've been able to play with this year is something I'll hold with me forever," he said.
"It's really nice being able to have that confidence in your own ability and to trust you've done the work and it's coming out in your game. That's something I'm really happy with and I'm really glad I've been able to get that consistent form throughout the last couple of years."
Tom Liberatore signs a new two-year deal with the Bulldogs to remain at the club until the end of 2021.
"Being loyal to my teammates is a big thing for me. I've been part of this group for nine years now and I'm happy where I am," Liberatore said.
"This group has the promise and the talent to get back to the top, and we've shown that ability in certain games this year. I think that we will keep getting better."
Tom Liberatore has declared himself fit to play in round one after having recovered from rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in round one of 2018.
"I'm good to go now, so I'll just make sure I have good prep (preparation) from now until then and I'll be good to go," he said.
"I'm excited to get around a bunch of new players, because we've had a few changes, and just excited to get out there and play again."
Tom Liberatore finally re-signs with the Western Bulldogs for 2019 after protracted contract talks.
Liberatore was a free agent in 2018, a season when he was sidelined for all bar the opening round after suffering his second ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
"Tom is an extremely talented player and such an important member of our side," Bulldogs list manager Sam Power said.
"He is well into his training program and we're confident that with a full pre-season he will return to his best next year."
The Western Bulldogs will ramp up contract talks with free agent Tom Liberatore later in the season as he continues his recovery from a second knee reconstruction.
"The priority for Tom, which the club and his management agreed, was to really focus on his rehab in that initial phase," Bulldogs list manager Sam Power said.
"To Tom's credit he's attacked it really well so far, so we'll get to that in terms of deeper discussions at the appropriate time in the back half of the year."
Tom Liberatore is carried from the field in the opening term after his right knee buckled while chasing a loose footy against the Giants.
Dogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed the 25-year-old had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and would require a knee reconstruction.
"It's going to be a grind again, it's a tough time to recuperate from an ACL injury and Tom had a tough time of it last time, so we need to support him through it," Beveridge said.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge throws down the challenge Tom Liberatore to reclaim his place in the senior side after being dropped.
"Tom, I think, may not be as physically prepared as he was last year," Beveridge told SEN radio.
"I think it's got to do with … that legacy after winning a premiership.
"He understands part of the reasoning. His challenge now is to get himself back to physical capability to play the game.
"At the moment it's more of a stoppage-to-stoppage view from Tommy, (but) he's got so much more to offer. His very best footy can really influence games.
"It may well be a circuit-breaker. Sometimes going back to the VFL allows a player to free themselves up a little bit as well."
A downturn in output from Tom Liberatore isn't a concern for Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, despite the gun playmaker failing to hit top form in 2017.
Liberatore had just eight disposals in the Dogs' loss to West Coast in round eight, and is averaging just 17.25 disposals a game in 2017.
"Tom's role varies from week to week, (but) there's no doubt at times we put some time into opposition midfielders, which he has," Beveridge said.
"That will affect his accumulation, but it hasn't varied to any significant degree. He's looking to grow his game out in other areas where it's dried up, so we'll continue to help him do that."
The Bulldogs are confident Tom Liberatore will be recover from concussion in time for this week's clash with Richmond at Etihad Stadium.
Liberatore was forced out of the Bulldogs' loss to Greater Western Sydney early in the final quarter with a concussion sustained in a heavy tackle from Giant Shane Mumford.
Tom Liberatore's surprise off-season cameo in south-east Asia was limited to an entertaining five minutes on the field, according to a Vietnam Swans spokesman.
The Swans have played down the premiership-winning midfielder's involvement in last weekend's AFL Asian Championships after the Western Bulldogs expressed their concerns.
Vietnam Swans president Grant Keys said Liberatore took the field to help out a Macau Lightning side short of numbers in their match against Japan Goannas.
"Straight after kicking a left-foot snap from inside the square, 'Libba' immediately retired to the sidelines to cheer the team on, showing his class with what will go down as one of the most memorable goals in Asian Champs history!" Keys wrote on the club's website.
Tony Liberatore watched in ecstasy as his son, Tom Liberatore, becomes part of the Bulldogs' premiership winning team.
"It's enormous - this is such a surreal moment," he said.
"Footscray people are incredible people; so humble. I'm just so happy - ecstatic.
"I can't believe it."
After watching the club fall short of Grand Finals on so many occasions, Tom Liberatore said he was still searching to understand what had just happened.
"I don't know what I thought I'd feel. I don't know what it feels like now," the 24-year-old said.
"It means so much to me because of growing up at the club and how hard it was watching those prelims. It's unbelievable.
"There's been moments but I'm sure it will sink in later."
The Bulldogs are hopeful that Tom Liberatore will be available again before the end of the year after the young midfielder injured his ankle against Geelong.
"I think it is one of those syndemosis [high ankle sprain] injuries that can keep you out for a little while, but there are different levels so he is still a chance to be with us," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.
Tom Liberatore is a chance to face Gold Coast this week after pulling up better than expected from a rib injury.
"He’s come in to the club today in good spirits, we’ve received his scan results which shows that he has no internal injuries, but he does have a minor rib injury," Bulldogs football manager Graham Lowe said.
"We’ll give him every opportunity to play this weekend, but obviously his welfare is paramount."
Tom Liberatore has been cleared of internal damage by an initial scan but will not be given the all clear until he has undergone further tests.
Liberatore copped a heavy knock to the back in a marking contest with Jayden Short late in the second quarter of the Bulldogs' 10-point win over Richmond on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs midfielder hobbled to the bench and did not play any further part in the game, leaving the venue during the third quarter to be assessed at hospital.
Tom Liberatore equals the record for the most tackles in a VFL/AFL game, with a standout performance against Melbourne on Sunday.
The Bulldogs' 2014 best and fairest winner laid an incredible 19 tackles in the win over the Demons at the MCG, nearly a quarter of the Dogs' total tackle count (83).
Liberatore looked set to smash the record after recording seven tackles in the opening quarter alone.
At half-time he had 10 of his team's 30 tackles, laying another seven in the third term.
Liberatore needed just three tackles in the final quarter to break the record held by North Melbourne vice-captain Jack Ziebell and former Sydney Swan Jude Bolton.
But he fell agonisingly short, laying just two tackles in the last stanza to equal the record.
Tom Liberatore impresses with 25 disposals in his first regular season game of AFL football against Fremantle since recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
"It'll be progress, progress, progress with him," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.
"It does take you a little while when you've been out of the game for that long.
"We saw some good signs in the NAB Challenge and today he took a big step. His work in close and his awareness of what's around him and being able to connect when we need him to, he was a shining light in that regard today."
Tom Liberatore has made a seamless return from an ACL tear, starring in the Western Bulldogs' match simulation session at Whitten Oval.
In warm conditions, the 23-year-old was back to his playmaking best, winning plenty of the footy while showing no effects of the injury that sidelined him for the past 12 months.
The Western Bulldogs say they are looking forward to the return of Tom Liberatore in 2016.
"When he comes back we're just going to have such a greater depth throughout the midfield," teammate Jack Macrae said.
"He's just eager to get back into it after having 12 months off - I just know how much the club means to him and what a great player he is to have around the club.
"I think it's just going to be a really great season for him, hopefully."
The future of Western Bulldogs best and fairest Tom Liberatore is at flashpoint after another club sanction, stemming from a multi-day period of partying.
Liberatore was due to head to Europe with non-Bulldogs friends. However, the club intervened after he missed compulsory club appointments, a result of excessive socialising three weeks ago.
Channel Nine revealed the Bulldogs instead diverted him to Thailand, a country it feels can better accommodate his rehabilitation for the knee injury.
Tom Liberatore signs a two-year contract extension with the Western Bulldogs that will keep him at the club until the end of 2018.
"This group has a huge amount of upside, and I'm just pleased to be a very small part of that," Liberatore said.
"We have an extremely close group of players, coaches and staff who just want to take this club forward and in light of that, these contractual discussions were pretty seamless."
Tom Liberatore will miss the 2015 season after scans revealed a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Liberatore will undergo a traditional knee reconstruction after his knee buckled awkwardly in a tackle from Tiger Tyrone Vickery during the Bulldogs' NAB Challenge clash against Richmond at the Whitten Oval.
"Our initial prognosis of an ACL tear was confirmed today by MRI, and we are all feeling for Tom, who is an integral part of our team," Bulldogs football manager Graham Lowe said in a statement.
"He is in good spirits however, and we know he will take his rehabilitation in his stride. Tom is an extremely resilient young man, and will return bigger and better from this setback."
Tom Williams has wasted no time in his new venture as an AFL player agent, acquiring former teammate Tom Liberatore as a client.
"'Libba' and I had a really good relationship when we were playing and he suggested that he wanted to come with me and he liked what we were doing and the plan we had for our players," Williams said.
"I didn't want him to come over just because we were mates - that's not the reason. It's a professional relationship."
Williams said his long-held interest in the business of sport had pushed him in the direction of player management, as well as a chat with former coach Rodney Eade.
"When I was thinking about retiring I spoke to a few people including 'Rocket' and I said I wouldn't mind getting into the business side of sport but I didn't really know where to start," Williams said.
"But he asked if I had thought about management, because you get to see how other clubs operate, the ins and outs of what players go through, contracts, and you have to identify your own talent at a young age."
Tom Liberatore has been rewarded for his standout season, winning his maiden Charles Sutton Medal at the Western Bulldogs' best and fairest count at Crown Palladium.
The midfielder won his club's most prestigious award by a comprehensive 67 votes, ahead of second year player Jack Macrae.
"Firstly I'd like to thank my teammates," Liberatore said after being announced as the winner.
"Over my four years so far I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of blokes to be associated with. In terms of my development, the coaching staff have been great. It's been a great start to my career and I'm very appreciative of what this club has done for me.
Tom Liberatore hopes to continue to improve as a footballer in 2014 after an outstanding season last year.
"It's been made pretty clear that the coach expects nothing less but nothing more than the same level [as last season]," Liberatore said.
"It's more [about] consolidation and establishing another year of consistency. I've still got to be making improvements to my game and trying to be a stronger leader as well.
"I don't really want to force anything, I just keep it as natural as possible."
Ryan Griffen takes out his second consecutive Charles Sutton Medal as the Bulldogs' best and fairest with 273 votes of Tom Liberatore on 242 votes, while ruckman Will Minson with 184 votes came third.
Tom Liberatore signs a new three-year deal with the Bulldogs after enjoying a break out season where he leads the league in clearances with an average of eight per game.
"It shows any of our young players that with an extra pre-season, with a quality coaching program in place, they can come on pretty quickly," Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said.
"We were confident we had a quality player on our hands, but it would it be fair to say, 'Did we think he would be in that upper echelon with some of those KPIs (key performance indicators) against the AFL benchmarks this year?' Probably not, but he's been able to do it."
Monday, 17 December 2012
Tom Liberatore is working hard to win back the trust of his teammates after serving a season-ending, club-imposed four-week suspension.
"Obviously it was a bit of a wake-up call for him. He went through some pretty tough times in that four-week period and then over the break, but he's back, he's training really well and he's fitted back into the group fantastically well," teammate Daniel Giansiracusa said.
"He's seems really committed to sort of getting the respect back of the group. He's a great player and he's going to come through it well."
Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney defends the character of Tom Liberatore following the young midfielder's suspension after a big night out.
"I will say it right here now, he is not only a fantastic player, he is a very, very good person," McCartney said.
"And he is a young player who got himself into strife through an error of judgement. He is not the first that has ever done it and he won't be the last."
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
The Western Bulldogs will follow through strongly on their decision to send Tom Liberatore to work for the next six weeks where he will be involved in a physically and mentally challenging job.
Monday, 6 August 2012
The Western Bulldogs suspend Tom Liberatore for the rest of the year after the midfielder was found in possession of illicit substances while unconscious by police.
"The Bulldogs leadership group imposed the four-week sanction after Tom was located by Victoria Police early Sunday morning heavily intoxicated and in possession of a small amount of a recreational, illicit substance," a statement from the Bulldogs said.
"Despite this grave error of judgment, we continue to believe that Tom is a young man that has the brightest of futures and we are 100 per cent behind him during this time."
The AFL confirms Tom Liberatore will receive a strike under the League's illicit drugs policy.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Tom Liberatore says that Saint midfielder Lenny Hayes was his role model growing up and that playing on the St Kilda star was a great experience.
"When I was growing up I loved watching Lenny play, and he was one of the players I modelled my game on," he said.
"His ability to win the ball and his workrate outside is second to none. It wasn't a great game to go through, but AFL footy is all about learning and it was great to get that first-hand experience of playing on Lenny. It was probably the best learning experience I've had."
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Thomas Liberatore makes his AFL debut for the Western Bulldogs at Docklands Stadium with 19 disposals (12 kicks and 7 handballs), 4 marks and 2 tackles in a 55-point loss to Essendon.