Liberatore loss adds to beaten Bulldogs’ woes

THE Western Bulldogs have been left to lick their wounds after a disastrous Round 1 performance was compounded by a season-ending knee injury to key midfielder Tom Liberatore.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge last night confirmed fears that Liberatore, pictured, had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament following an 82- point loss to GWS in Canberra. Liberatore was chasing opponent Josh Kelly near the boundary midway through the opening term when his right knee appeared to buckle and he immediately pulled up in pain.

He was helped from the field by trainers and taken down to the rooms for assessment, where the worst news was soon confirmed.

“The medicos have confirmed that he’s ruptured his ACL so really unfortunate,” Beveridge said. “We were hoping for a bit of good luck this year with injury but haven’t started off too well.”

Liberatore — who turns 26 in May and is out of contract at season’s end — missed the 2015 season after having a reconstruction on the left knee, which he ruptured during a preseason match against Richmond.

“It’s going to be a grind again. It’s a tough time to recuperate from an ACL injury and Tom had a tough time of it last time so we’ll need to support him through it,” Beveridge said.

“I think the last thing he’s probably thinking about, and I haven’t given it much thought, is his medium to longterm future.”

After a below-par 2017 season that saw the 2014 club best-and-fairest record career-low averages for disposals, metres gained and clearances, the Bulldogs had described Liberatore’s pre-season as “really encouraging”, making the latest blow all the more painstaking.

The loss to the Giants was the Bulldogs’ biggest under Beveridge and equal worst for the club since Round 21, 2012.

It was also the sixth time in 16 matches the Dogs had failed to kick more than eight goals and the sixth time in the same period they had conceded over 100 points.