Tony Liberatore patches up rift with Bulldogs

[LostDoggy]

Tony Liberatore patches up rift with Bulldogs

Mark Stevens | June 23, 2009 12:00am

EXCLUSIVE: TONY Liberatore has broken his silence on a painful public spat with the Western Bulldogs, declaring: "I got it wrong."

The 1990 Brownlow medallist is easing his way back into the Bulldogs fold after apologising to president David Smorgon and chief executive Campbell Rose.

"I made a mistake over a year ago - February 14th, 2008," Liberatore said.

"The situation I was dealing with at the time personally wasn't good and I was going through change.

"So you make poor decisions. We all make mistakes in life."

Liberatore created headlines expressing fears for the future of the Bulldogs and calling for Rose to "move on".

He claimed Rose was more interested in balancing the books than winning games.

Smorgon responded by angrily banishing Liberatore, a Team of the Century member, from the club.

But Liberatore has extended the olive branch to Smorgon and recently took the significant step of phoning Rose in a bid to heal wounds.

"David and Campbell were fantastic. Really receptive," Liberatore said.

"Campbell's words to me were, 'Life's too short'.

"I've bridged that gap with Campbell because I did the wrong thing."

Liberatore, now coaching West Footscray in the Western Region Football League and running a blossoming football academy, continued to watch the Bulldogs from the stands despite his fallout with the club.

He denied the strong likelihood of the Dogs taking his son Thomas as a father-son selection next year provided the impetus for the apology.

"My son's not the driving force," he said. "My message to Bulldogs supporters, and the football public in general, is I still love the footy club.

"They've been great to me. I've been great to them."

"I enjoy watching them play. I wish them success. I want them to get better. I want to see more members join up. If they need a hand, I'll help them out," Liberatore said.

During the time of his attack on Rose, Liberatore was going through a separation from his wife of 17 years, Jane.

He said the comments were based on information from sources within the club, which he now admitted were wrong.

"People at the football club were telling me things and it was a concern. I was worried about the club," Liberatore said.

"The mistake I made was I should have approached David and Campbell about it, instead of coming out with it.

"People I trusted gave me some information that was wrong.

"It was my poor judgment. In a nutshell, it was done incorrectly.

"I think I've paid for it in a lot of ways. I think it's cost me a coaching position."

Liberatore played 283 games for the Bulldogs.

He is a life member of the club, but has not been to an official Bulldogs function for several years.

Liberatore is adamant he is ready to jump back on board and accept any invitation that arrives.

[Scraggers]

Welcome back Libba

[immortalmike]

Apology accepted Libba mate. Just don't do it again.

[LostDoggy]

I hope we get to see little Libba running around in a couple of years

[Scraggers]

I hope we get to see little Libba running around in a couple of years

He's not all that little ... taller than his Dad

[LostDoggy]

He's not all that little ... taller than his Dad

I'd sure hope he is. How tall is he?

[Mantis]

I'd sure hope he is. How tall is he?

He is listed at 181cm & 68kg, but he is still in year 11 so hopefully he has a bit of growing to do.

[aker39]

Welcome back Libba.

[strebla]

Great stuf Libba you may may be short of stature but it takes a big man to publicly apologise in this way once again you have shown the bulldogs why you are a champ!!!

[BulldogBelle]

Glad you've come home Lib.

[Topdog]

Ｗｅｌｃｏｍｅ　ｈｏｍｅ　Ｌｉｂ．

[bulldogtragic]

Takes a very, very big man to apologise in this way. Just another way Tony has shown charachter and attitude are more important than other (physical) attributes. Besides welcome back, i salute you for apologising publicly and so honestly and bluntly (unlike the KRudd apology - "if anyone was offended, then i apologise"). Not many egos can do what Tony did privately, let alone to the media and footy world. Got an extra piece of respect from me for the way you handled this. Great to have a club legend back.

p.s. - although i'm sure bomberdog from BF is probably upset right now if that infamour thread was anything to go by...

[mighty_west]

Even though he denies it, the fact that his son being touted as a possible father son selection has to be the main motivation towards his apology, having said that, whatever his reasons are, it's great for a club champion to come back, i'm not one to hold grudges, lifes too short for that rubbish...

Welcome back Libba!!!!!!

[Bulldog4life]

Great news Libba. He was a mighty warrior for our great Club.

[LostDoggy]

Whatever his motivation is it's best not to look a gift horse in the mouth and as Campbell Rose put it 'Life is too short', much like Libba really. Well done Tony, is there anything this little big man is afraid of, I think not.

Good stuff doggies.