Bulldogs excited at return of 'No.1 recruit' Liberatore

[bornadog]

REGAINING Tom Liberatore next season will be like welcoming a No.1 draft pick to the club, the Western Bulldogs believe.
Liberatore missed all of last season after rupturing his left anterior cruciate ligament in a NAB Challenge match against Richmond late last February.

It was a massive blow for the Bulldogs at the time given Liberatore, one of the competition's best inside ball-winners, was their reigning best and fairest winner and had finished runner-up in the 2013 award.
However the Dogs, under new coach Luke Beveridge, were able to cover Liberatore's loss and made the finals for the first time since 2010.
Liberatore took the latest step in his rehabilitation on Monday, completing some run-throughs on the Whitten Oval as the Bulldogs' first-to-fourth-year players returned for the start of pre-season training.
At this early stage, the 23-year-old midfielder is on track for a round one return in 2016.

Teammate Jack Macrae was excited by that prospect when he spoke with reporters at the Whitten Oval on Monday.
"When he did his ACL, 'Bevo' said when we get you back eventually it's just going to be like (getting) a No.1 recruit," Macrae said.
"Although his injury was really disappointing and devastating for so many of us, it's given plenty of blokes around the cub a chance to push themselves and earn more midfield time.

"So when he comes back we're just going to have such a greater depth throughout the midfield, which is just another added bonus.
"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."

Most of the Bulldogs players who trained on Monday completed a series of tests, including a "MAS" continuous running test that was won by forward Tory Dickson.
Macrae said Nathan Hrovat and Lachie Hunter had also stood out on day one of the Dogs' 2016 pre-season.

This time last year the Bulldogs had embarked on their 2015 pre-season with a new coach and a new captain, Robert Murphy, after a tumultuous 2014 trade period that saw then coach Brendan McCartney and captain Ryan Griffen depart their posts.
Macrae said there was a vastly different feeling around the club this year.
"We now know our identity whereas last year we were really searching for that brand of footy and this year we can really build on what we've accomplished so far," he said.

Emerging midfielder Jack Macrae at Bulldogs training on Monday. Picture: AFL Media


The Bulldogs' 2015 season ended in heartbreaking fashion when they lost to Adelaide by seven points in the second elimination final, their inaccurate 14.18 return for the night adding to their disappointment.
Macrae said that loss would motivate the Bulldogs ahead of 2016.
"(Last season was) a great year but I don't think anyone at the club is satisfied," Macrae said.

"That was the message that we all received and everyone feels that (way), which is great."
The rest of the Bulldogs' playing group will return to training on November 23.

LINK

[Mantis]

Anyone know more about the 'MAS' running test?

[boydogs]

Anyone know more about the 'MAS' running test?

http://www.tdrfitness.com/blog/maxim...obic-speed-mas

[Ghost Dog]

His left leg does look pretty thin. Welcome back fella.

[BulldogBelle]

Going to be hard for some of these young midfield guys to get a spot with Libba and Koby back.
Be interesting to see how long it takes Libba to get back to his best.

[Mofra]

Going to be hard for some of these young midfield guys to get a spot with Libba and Koby back.
Be interesting to see how long it takes Libba to get back to his best.

His dad came back in something like 16 weeks so he has solid genes.
Hardly missed any games before doing his knee either. In a way it was lucky he did it so early

[Cyberdoggie]

His left leg does look pretty thin. Welcome back fella.

I was going to say he looks pretty thin all over. I guess this helps with his running and recovery and
it's easy to put weight and muscle back on with his body type.

[Bulldog4life]

https://hurlingpeoplenow.wordpress.c...lia-afltrades/


Western Bulldogs all but pay Sydney to take Michael Talia

If Sydney do slightly better in 2016 than they did this year, then the Bulldogs have given Talia away for less than nothing. (Feel free to steal that example of a proper if-then statement, Damo)

Sydney value in: 1200 points (Michael Talia 815 points, pick 69 – 385 points

Western Bulldogs value in: 400 points (2016 pick ~68 points)

Verdict: Very unfair trade, Sydney get back 3 points of value for every point given up.

After the “talking to his brother” scandal, the Bulldogs have turned hard on Michael Talia and are turfing him for potentially less than nothing, making him a free hit at filling a dire need in the Swans’ future plans. Specifically, the nominal value of the Swans 2016 pick is 68, but that could easy fall below the 69 the Dogs traded to Sydney via either a better Swans performance (making a prelim final), or a couple of free agent compensation picks pushing the pick down the order. Unless Sydney slide down the ladder, the Bulldogs would probably have been better off simply delisting him.

Now, there’s a strong chance that Michael Talia is not a good player and he may never take a regular spot at the Swans, but they are desperate for a key position defender with any sort of experience between the ages of 20 and 30, and Talia fits that bill at no cost.

Talia goes into the mix with Aliir Allir and Xavier Richards for the key defender positions soon to be vacated by Ted Richards (33 in January) and Heath Grundy (30 in June). He fills a gaping hole in the Swans list profile, with the only other candidates being Sam Reid who is probably needed up forward with Goodes’ retirement, or mid-sized defenders like Rampe and Laidler. Spare a thought also for Alex Johnson, a 23-year-old who hasn’t played since the 2012 grand final due to an ACL injury and subsequent infection complications. He won’t play again before 2017, if ever.

Talia has played 9, 3 and 14 games over the last three years (an average of 8.7), and turned 22 in February. He got a Brownlow vote once. Based on his record so far, we’d therefore project him to play about another 81 games in his career, making his fair value around pick 37. Talia reaching that projection would be a very good result for Sydney

[1eyedog]

https://hurlingpeoplenow.wordpress.c...lia-afltrades/


Western Bulldogs all but pay Sydney to take Michael Talia

If Sydney do slightly better in 2016 than they did this year, then the Bulldogs have given Talia away for less than nothing. (Feel free to steal that example of a proper if-then statement, Damo)

Sydney value in: 1200 points (Michael Talia 815 points, pick 69 – 385 points

Western Bulldogs value in: 400 points (2016 pick ~68 points)

Verdict: Very unfair trade, Sydney get back 3 points of value for every point given up.

After the “talking to his brother” scandal, the Bulldogs have turned hard on Michael Talia and are turfing him for potentially less than nothing, making him a free hit at filling a dire need in the Swans’ future plans. Specifically, the nominal value of the Swans 2016 pick is 68, but that could easy fall below the 69 the Dogs traded to Sydney via either a better Swans performance (making a prelim final), or a couple of free agent compensation picks pushing the pick down the order. Unless Sydney slide down the ladder, the Bulldogs would probably have been better off simply delisting him.

Now, there’s a strong chance that Michael Talia is not a good player and he may never take a regular spot at the Swans, but they are desperate for a key position defender with any sort of experience between the ages of 20 and 30, and Talia fits that bill at no cost.

Talia goes into the mix with Aliir Allir and Xavier Richards for the key defender positions soon to be vacated by Ted Richards (33 in January) and Heath Grundy (30 in June). He fills a gaping hole in the Swans list profile, with the only other candidates being Sam Reid who is probably needed up forward with Goodes’ retirement, or mid-sized defenders like Rampe and Laidler. Spare a thought also for Alex Johnson, a 23-year-old who hasn’t played since the 2012 grand final due to an ACL injury and subsequent infection complications. He won’t play again before 2017, if ever.

Talia has played 9, 3 and 14 games over the last three years (an average of 8.7), and turned 22 in February. He got a Brownlow vote once. Based on his record so far, we’d therefore project him to play about another 81 games in his career, making his fair value around pick 37. Talia reaching that projection would be a very good result for Sydney

Payback for Biggs. I'm ok with it.