Tom Liberatore

[bornadog]

This is so much the required action and it should not need any sort of 360.
There needs an immediate whistle on a tackle and we need to penalise the player who makes no effort for anything other than a stoppage.
Stop rewarding players for putting themselves in unnecessary danger

Prior opportunity rule is what has caused this. Players just go for a stoppage as they won't try and get rid of the ball

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Truer words have not been spoken

[jeemak]

Prior opportunity rule is what has caused this. Players just go for a stoppage as they won't try and get rid of the ball

Umpires need to ball it up more quickly, and not await nomination of rucks.

Tackling techniques are so advanced now that pinging players immediately is unfair to the ball players. Get the game moving and if someone is taking the piss in attempting to get rid of it, ping them for holding the ball.

[Bulldog Joe]

Umpires need to ball it up more quickly, and not await nomination of rucks.

Tackling techniques are so advanced now that pinging players immediately is unfair to the ball players. Get the game moving and if someone is taking the piss in attempting to get rid of it, ping them for holding the ball.

It is simple enough.
Ball players should not be permitted to just hang on. Give them leeway for attempted disposal but don't allow to just take the tackle.
Reward the tackler when a player just holds the ball.
No ball up unless ball is pinned on with immediate tackle.

[bornadog]

It is simple enough.
Ball players should not be permitted to just hang on. Give them leeway for attempted disposal but don't allow to just take the tackle.
Reward the tackler when a player just holds the ball.
No ball up unless ball is pinned on with immediate tackle.

As ledge said, the players seem to have forever to get rid of the ball and they are swung around a few times and eventually put to ground, because the umpires have been told to give them that time.

[jeemak]

It is simple enough.
Ball players should not be permitted to just hang on. Give them leeway for attempted disposal but don't allow to just take the tackle.
Reward the tackler when a player just holds the ball.
No ball up unless ball is pinned on with immediate tackle.

I agree with this. Legitimate attempt to dispose of the ball when immediately tackled, no waiting around.

[angelopetraglia]

Mitch Cleary

Breaking - Great news for the Western Bulldogs. Tom Liberatore has been cleared by specialists to resume playing.
He’s eyeing off an AFL return inside three weeks after two concussions this season

[jeemak]

Mitch Cleary

Breaking - Great news for the Western Bulldogs. Tom Liberatore has been cleared by specialists to resume playing.
He’s eyeing off an AFL return inside three weeks after two concussions this season

Well there you go. Only an hour ago I posted this wasn't likely to happen based on my ample gut's feeling.

[angelopetraglia]

Amazing news for me that he doesn't have severe long lasting damage thaty they believe would rule him out of playing again. That is amazing news for his overall health.

Also, secondary. We get to see the great man again in red, white and blue.

Magnicent news on both fronts.

[angelopetraglia]

(From the club's website on the injury update)

Tom Liberatore is on track to return in the coming weeks as he nears recovery from a recent concussion.

Liberatore suffered the knock in the Round 8 loss to Hawthorn, taking on extensive specialist consultation as well as sitting inside the AFL protocols.

Western Bulldogs Head of Sports Medicine, Chris Bell, was able to give a pleasing update ahead of an impending return.

"We have continued to be very diligent and thorough in our processes for assessing and managing Tom following his most recent concussion in Round 8,” Bell said.

“This has involved specialist review and opinion to help guide his return to play planning.

“In some great news, after some reassuring results, we have a devised a structured return to play plan, that if everything goes well, will see Tom returning to play across the next 2-3 weeks."

[angelopetraglia]

Tom Liberatore cleared to soon make AFL return after concussion woes (Jon Ralph)

Tom Liberatore has not been sighted since the Dogs went down to the Hawks, but the ball-winning bull looks set to be on track for an AFL return.

Tom Liberatore has been cleared to return to football despite five concussions and four incidents since last season.

The brilliant Dogs inside midfielder has been given medical clearance to return to the game in coming weeks after a series of worrying incidents this season.

He collapsed after a pair of hits in the Essendon clash and then again stumbled and fell after clipping Conor Nash’s boot in an incident that saw him cut open.

But the Dogs have cleared him to return to the game despite that worrying concussion history.

Only last week the Dogs had their young draftee Aiden O’Driscoll medically retired by the AFL after a single head knock which caused damage on his most recent brain scans.

The Dogs dedicated their win over GWS to O’Driscoll after his torrid involvement with AFL football.

He is set to secure a $250,000 career-ending injury payout as well as being paid out the two seasons of his contract at around $110,000.

But Liberatore has been training solidly in recent weeks and is determined to return to the game.

He is hoping to return within three weeks even though his combative style of play means it is difficult for him to minimise the head knocks that are a part of football.

Dogs head of sports medicine Chris Bell said the club had made the decision it was safe for Liberatore to return.

“We have continued to be very diligent and thorough in our processes for assessing and managing Tom following his most recent concussion in Round 8,” Bell said.

“This has involved specialist review and opinion to help guide his return to play planning.

“In some great news, after some reassuring results, we have a devised a structured return to play plan, that if everything goes well, will see Tom returning to play across the next 2-3 weeks.”

Ralph also tweeted Liberatore cleared to play despite five concussions in recent years and four since the mid-point of last season. Cleared by specialists, very unwilling to retire.

[EasternWest]

Well there you go. Only an hour ago I posted this wasn't likely to happen based on my ample gut's feeling.

I dunno, I'm still iffy on it to be honest. One knock and he's done, and the way he plays one knock isn't inconceivable. I'll hold my fire on commenting as to whether this is good to hear or not.

[angelopetraglia]

I dunno, I'm still iffy on it to be honest. One knock and he's done, and the way he plays one knock isn't inconceivable. I'll hold my fire on commenting as to whether this is good to hear or not.

I have a similar view. However, you would think that the specialists are assessing the information and making the right decision based on evidence. Surely this is not guess work. Like they did with Brayshaw and Murphy. Also O'Driscoll last week.

So if they are clearing him, that must mean that he is OK from what they can measure. Surely that is a positive sign. You would hope that they are not just guessing.

[ledge]

Dare I say it. I think Richard’s in the middle is better than Libba, we need Richard’s so who goes out for Libba or could we fit Libba in another role and what role ?
No disrespect for Libba but he doesn’t give us the speed and run out of the middle like Richards does, looking at a few teams this year they have burst players eg Reid yesterday, that is something you won’t get with Libba.

[EasternWest]

I have a similar view. However, you would think that the specialists are assessing the information and making the right decision based on evidence. Surely this is not guess work. Like they did with Brayshaw and Murphy. Also O'Driscoll last week.

So if they are clearing him, that must mean that he is OK from what they can measure. Surely that is a positive sign. You would hope that they are not just guessing.

That's fair.