Tom Liberatore is raring to go in Western Bulldogs intra-club game

Tom Liberatore is raring to go in Western Bulldogs intra-club game

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TOM Liberatore’s recovery from a knee reconstruction will take a leap forward on Saturday when the gun midfielder plays his first game in nearly a year.

Liberatore will feature in a four-quarter Western Bulldogs intra-club match at Whitten Oval — 11½ months since suffering the crippling injury in a pre-season game at the same ground.

The Dogs’ 2014 best-and-fairest and the AFL’s best clearance and tackling player before his injury, Liberatore is on track to join an elite midfield before the club’s Round 1 clash against Fremantle.

“You forget the type of player we were missing last year and how valuable he’s going to be this year,” Bulldogs midfield coach Steven King said.

“We’re in the fortunate position now where we’ve added experience and depth to our midfield and now we get a best-and-fairest winner back.

“We know how much he loves the game and loves competing so he’s going to be fantastic for us.”

Liberatore was sanctioned by the club for a lack of professionalism in his rehab halfway through last year.

Dogs officials then banned him from travelling to Europe with non-football mates, instead diverting him to Thailand to further his knee recovery.

But King said the 23-year-old had turned the corner.

“He’s definitely been better. I think when something is so far away like a return to the game you do lose a bit of focus,” he said.

“But since he joined in for pre-season in November you could tell he was hungry and he hasn’t missed a beat with his rehab.

“The best thing for ‘Libba’ has been coming back, joining in, getting through unscathed and going for it with the boys and being part of the main group again.

“You never take your career for granted, but I’m sure now he realises you’ve got to put runs on the board while you can and I’m sure he’s hungry to do that as well.”

Any return to match simulation sparks nerves, but the timing of Liberatore’s injury has ensured a steady and methodical comeback.

“There was no real possibility of him coming back last year ... so it was about engaging with Tom to keep him patient and driven,” King said.

“He’s got all his strength back, he’s undergone a lot of biomechanical checks and he’s ticked that off,” King said.

“It’s been more about, ‘Do we hold him back?’ and, ‘When do we throw him into full contact?’

“Although we’re not expecting him to come back and be the Libba of old straight away ... it’s going to be great to see him back out there.”

Good luck to Libba, hope it is a successful comeback as we really miss him out there.

Come back as strong as your old man, Tom! Looking forward to seeing him back in the RW&B this season. Hoping for a successful and injury free run for all the players. Fingers crossed.

Expect to see him outside the contest more this year easing him back in and learning new aspects to his game, and hopefully release his left foot a little bit which is superb.

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Originally Posted by Mofra

Expect to see him outside the contest more this year easing him back in and learning new aspects to his game, and hopefully release his left foot a little bit which is superb.

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Man it's a mouth watering thought. If he is near 100% and can be released a bit, it's so exciting what he can bring to this team.

I hope they water the hell out of the Whitten Oval overnight.
Not convinced the couch grass they have put in is ideal for AFL and changing direction with boot studs.

Early in the year, relatively dry summer, step up in intensity putting higher stresses on joints that haven't been doing
that level of stress for a while (ie match simulation).

I really hope it goes well for all tomorrow.

What are our expectations of Tom this season?
He is still 23. Depending on how our other players adapt, I'd possibly see roles for him in other parts of the ground, to give his body a chance to get used to things.

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Originally Posted by Cyberdoggie

I hope they water the hell out of the Whitten Oval overnight.
Not convinced the couch grass they have put in is ideal for AFL and changing direction with boot studs.

Early in the year, relatively dry summer, step up in intensity putting higher stresses on joints that haven't been doing
that level of stress for a while (ie match simulation).

I really hope it goes well for all tomorrow.

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Good point but having played on kikuyu, which is like couch but more coarse, with stops in the boots, I'm not worried. It's like carpet, cushoning and the rhyzomes don't create a problem to twisting and turning. It's excellent in summer when it's active and dormant and matt like in winter.

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Originally Posted by Ghost Dog

What are our expectations of Tom this season?

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ACLs are often considered two year injuries as it takes a good 12 months to get back to pre-knee form.
Slow start and building form as the year wears on.

Isn't the hammy's the thing to worry about after a knee?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ghost Dog

What are our expectations of Tom this season?
He is still 23. Depending on how our other players adapt, I'd possibly see roles for him in other parts of the ground, to give his body a chance to get used to things.

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Could play the ocasional small forward lock it in F50 tackle pressure animal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mofra

ACLs are often considered two year injuries as it takes a good 12 months to get back to pre-knee form.
Slow start and building form as the year wears on.

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Spot on, please WB don't rush him back too soon.

The thing is, even when they are doing rehab, players can inspire and motivate each other. Glad they pinged him for that.
As much as his career was a huge disappointment in some ways, Tom Williams remains a player I really respect, and no doubt inspired others to get on the track.

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Originally Posted by Hotdog60

Isn't the hammy's the thing to worry about after a knee?

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Yes that is a typical injury