Tom Liberatore
Nominated for Liam Picken's midfield role (Picken to bench)

Debut 2011

158 games, 55 goals (to Rd 10 2021)

1x Premiership (2016)
1x Charles Sutton Medal (2014)
Scott West Most Courageous Award - Western Bulldogs : 2016
Doug Hawkins Medal - Western Bulldogs: 2013
Gary Dempsey Medal - Western Bulldogs: 2020
Western Bulldogs Tony Liberatore Most Improved Player Award: 2012
Chris Grant Medal - Western Bulldogs Best First Year Player: 2011
John Van Groningen Domestique Award - Western Bulldogs: 2020
2x Brad Johnson Best Team Player - Western Bulldogs: 2014, 2020

Libba has been an essential part of our club for the past 10 years. Despite having his 2015 and 2018 seasons ruined by injury, Libba has persisted and got himself back in to career-best form in 2021. He leads the competition in clearances, is ranked by the AFL rankings as the third best player in the league and would be arguably beating the best player in the competition for our best and fairest.

Libba debuted against the Bombers in Rd 1 2011, kicking things off the way they would go on with 7 clearances, and in game 2 he had 28 touches with 10 tackles against the Lions. He played 16 games in his debut season and won the best first year player award at the club, before following up with another 17 games in season 2, continuing to develop his role as an essential part of our young midfield. Nobody typified the Mccartney 'crack in' years better than Libba - with the only issue being the way he was 'cracking in' off field as well. Libba was suspended by the club following round 17 2012 and missed the final six games, after being found unconscious on King St.

In 2013 he was on a mission of redemption, and boy did he redeem himself. He finished 2nd in the best and fairest, lead the league in clearances and polled 14 Brownlow votes (his highest tally).

He was one of few shining lights in 2014, when he won his first Charles Sutton medal. He lead the league in tackles (including a run of 14,12,10,14,10) and was part of the AA squad. It was devastating for fans, and undoubtedly for Tom, when he ruptured his ACL in a pre-season game at Whitten Oval in 2015, ruling him out of Luke Beveridge's first season in charge.

We would not have won our 2016 flag without Libba. A heart and soul player, he was our midfield bull all year. He suffered another potentially season-ending injury in Rd 19 when he damaged his syndesmosis, but made an extraordinary recovery to be back for the finals series where he played a key role in the starting midfield - although he almost missed the GF after injuring his ankle again in the frantic on-field celebrations in western Sydney. He came 4th in the B&F in this enormous year in the club's history.
EF v Eagles 22d, 6cl, 3t, 1 goal
SF v Hawks 20d, 4cl, 4t
PF v giants 15d 5cl 7t
GF v Swans 22d 8cl 8t, 100*

Libba's 2017 season was a low point, as the team slumped around him and he was actually dropped in round 8. He then tore his ACL again in Rd 1 2018, and many wondered whether we would ever get the B&F winning bull back on the field. His 2019 season did not allay those fears, as he was once again average and missed out on top 10 in the B&F.

In 2020 we got our man back. He finished 3rd in the B&F, as well as the Domestique and the Best Team Player award.

Some career highs:
Tackles - 19 Rd 8 2016 vs Melbourne
Clearances - 14 Rd 22 2013 v Brisbane
Disposals - surprisingly has only had 30+ 11 times in his career - highest being 36 in both 2013 fixtures against Melbourne
Goals - 3 rd11 2016 v WC (including the matchwinner)