Greystache
02-03-2014, 12:36 AM
WHEN Gary Ablett finally relinquishes his mantle as the best midfielder in the game, the unlikely figure of Tom Liberatore has the tools to inherit his thorny crown.
Adelaide jet Patrick Dangerfield, Fremantle semi-trailer driver Nathan Fyfe or Richmond captain Trent Cotchin will all be candidates to an unofficial title that Bob Skilton, Leigh Matthews and Robert Harvey held over the years.
Then there are the kids such as Harley Bennell, Dion Prestia, Jaeger O’Meara, or even the better established in Joel Selwood, Scott Pendlebury and Daniel Hannebery.
But it’s the blue-collar worker in Tom Liberatore who I believe will eventually become the next supreme master of the midfield.
“Libba” may lack the explosiveness of Dangerfield, the marking of Fyfe or the exquisite balance of Cotchin, but he has an ability to win contested ball rarely seen from one so young.
We are talking about a 21-year-old who last year led the AFL in clearances, finished third behind Sydney’s Josh Kennedy and Ablett in contested possession and ranked fourth in total tackles.
His tackling, at an average of more than six per game, is the area where he sets himself apart from most of his rivals, although Andrew Swallow, Pendlebury and Ablett also recorded strong averages.
Liberatore, 182cm, now has to add further dimensions to his inside game and that will come as his running patterns improve as they have over summer.
Kicking more goals (just 11 in 55 games) and becoming dangerous inside the forward 50m will become a focus for a lad who arrived at the Western Bulldogs via St Kevin’s, Calder under-18s and St Bernard’s.
421
He will never have the breakaway speed that has been the signature of Ablett and Chris Judd, but nor did Greg Williams or Michael Voss. Liberatore will always find the ball. And if his level of improvement continues its current trend, he will be something very special in three years.
Ablett at 21 was a very exciting small forward, but former Geelong great Paul Couch was laughed at in 1984 when he said the then 20-year-old Ablett had the ability to rival Voss, if not surpass him.
No one is laughing now. Liberatore may just be a similar package.
LINK (http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/jon-anderson-writes-tom-liberatore-will-take-over-from-gary-ablett-as-the-afls-next-superstar/story-fndv8weh-1226842283401)
Adelaide jet Patrick Dangerfield, Fremantle semi-trailer driver Nathan Fyfe or Richmond captain Trent Cotchin will all be candidates to an unofficial title that Bob Skilton, Leigh Matthews and Robert Harvey held over the years.
Then there are the kids such as Harley Bennell, Dion Prestia, Jaeger O’Meara, or even the better established in Joel Selwood, Scott Pendlebury and Daniel Hannebery.
But it’s the blue-collar worker in Tom Liberatore who I believe will eventually become the next supreme master of the midfield.
“Libba” may lack the explosiveness of Dangerfield, the marking of Fyfe or the exquisite balance of Cotchin, but he has an ability to win contested ball rarely seen from one so young.
We are talking about a 21-year-old who last year led the AFL in clearances, finished third behind Sydney’s Josh Kennedy and Ablett in contested possession and ranked fourth in total tackles.
His tackling, at an average of more than six per game, is the area where he sets himself apart from most of his rivals, although Andrew Swallow, Pendlebury and Ablett also recorded strong averages.
Liberatore, 182cm, now has to add further dimensions to his inside game and that will come as his running patterns improve as they have over summer.
Kicking more goals (just 11 in 55 games) and becoming dangerous inside the forward 50m will become a focus for a lad who arrived at the Western Bulldogs via St Kevin’s, Calder under-18s and St Bernard’s.
421
He will never have the breakaway speed that has been the signature of Ablett and Chris Judd, but nor did Greg Williams or Michael Voss. Liberatore will always find the ball. And if his level of improvement continues its current trend, he will be something very special in three years.
Ablett at 21 was a very exciting small forward, but former Geelong great Paul Couch was laughed at in 1984 when he said the then 20-year-old Ablett had the ability to rival Voss, if not surpass him.
No one is laughing now. Liberatore may just be a similar package.
LINK (http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/jon-anderson-writes-tom-liberatore-will-take-over-from-gary-ablett-as-the-afls-next-superstar/story-fndv8weh-1226842283401)