Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
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Tom Liberatore and the Western Bulldogs remain apart on the length of a new deal.
While a fresh contract for club captain and Brownlow medal favourite Marcus Bontempelli hogs the headlines, the Liberatore negotiations have hit an early hurdle.
Liberatore is in white-hot form for the 8-1 Bulldogs as the AFL’s No.1 ranked player for centre clearances and total clearances after Round 9. He also sits No.2 in the competition for contested possessions.
But at this stage the Bulldogs are only prepared to offer a one-year contract extension.
Liberatore, who turned 29 on Sunday, was made to wait until the end of 2018 to be offered a one-year deal after a second knee reconstruction saw him miss all but one quarter of that season.
But the inside midfielder made a bright start to 2019 and signed a two-year contract extension half-way through that season. It’s that deal which is due to expire at the end of the 2021 campaign.
It must be said it is only early in negotiations between Liberatore and the club. The Bulldogs want him to stay and Liberatore wants to stay, but there is water to go under the bridge.
Liberatore’s clearance work and vision in stoppage situations has been one of the key pillars of the Bulldogs scintillating start to the season.
It has been his grunt at the coalface that has unlocked a lot of class being shown by a deep on-ball unit.
Bontempelli is set to turn his back on free agency and re-commit to the Dogs with a lucrative new deal expected to be announced soon.
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
How long a contract would you give him?
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
Happy to give him 2 years. He has likely played for unders most of his career, deserves a 2 year contract. If he subsequently breaks down at some stage so be it, he will have earned every cent.
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
Yeah I think you just roll the dice on two years and get on with it. There's nobody who can step into his role.
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
One year is a little insulting isn't it? The guys been almost our best this season apart from Sir Marcus.
Two should've been the jumping off point.
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Grantysghost
One year is a little insulting isn't it? The guys been almost our best this season apart from Sir Marcus.
Two should've been the jumping off point.
They're probably privy to things we aren't around how his body is and what it takes for him to get up week in week out.
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jeemak
They're probably privy to things we aren't around how his body is and what it takes for him to get up week in week out.
That's a good point, and they'll probably land at 2 I just don't want to unnecessarily put any ripples in the currently calm Liberatore waters. He's vital to our success.
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
If Wood can get 2 years Libba deserves at least that at a minimum. I'd give him 3
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ratsmac
If Wood can get 2 years Libba deserves at least that at a minimum. I'd give him 3
Agree. I’d give him 3. He’s probably our most important mid (yes I know Bont Bont Bont), but Libba is the coal mine.
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
I’d give him 2. If we’re giving Wood, whose body is just as fragile and is older, 2 years then surely Libba is worth at least that.
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
I offer two with a trigger for a third if he wants it.
Re: Liberatore and the western bulldogs remain apart on new deal
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DOG GOD
Agree. I’d give him 3. He’s probably our most important mid (yes I know Bont Bont Bont), but Libba is the coal mine.
If you can find 2 years for Wood, with dodgy hammies, then 3 for Libba is a no brainer. Yeah the final year may be a bust, but 1 year is insulting.....