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.