DOGS KEEN TO LOCK UP HARD NUT WITH DEAL

PREMIERSHIP hero Tom Liberatore will be a Western Bulldogs priority for contract talks after careerbest form in the past two years.

Liberatore is a free agent this season but after securing Ryan Gardner on a three-season extension, the Dogs will turn their minds to Liberatore and young dasher Ed Richards.

After successfully navigating a season in which they signed a host of stars, including Bailey Smith, Jackson Macrae, Bailey Dale, Tim English and Caleb Daniel, the list of priority signings is much shorter.

Second-year tall Sam Darcy, set to take the competition by storm as an intercept defender, is in talks on a contract that will take him beyond his mandatory initial two-year deal.

Liberatore – at the other end of his career – finished third in the 2021 best-and-fairest after 25 games and second behind Josh Dunkley last year after a 22-game season.

He missed almost all of the 2015 and 2018 seasons with knee issues and as recently as 2021 his contract negotiations went deep into the season despite his excellent form.

But his signing takes on even more importance in a team that bases its style on winning contested ball given the loss of Dunkley to the Brisbane Lions.

On form he might again want to hold out for a two-year deal, seeing as he does not turn 31 until May, but talks soon will clarify his position.

Richards played only five games in the grand final season of 2021 because of ankle issues but came back to form last year in a 22-game season.

At 23 he is entering the peak of his career and as a running defender can release the likes of Daniel into the midfield.

The Dogs are keen to see the fruits of their 2021 trade labours realised after adding Rory Lobb in a late deal and securing Liam Jones as a full-back.

Both players have completed almost every minute of every session and again were strong in Friday’s match simulation session.

Lobb, signed on a fouryear deal, kicked 36 goals last year for the Dockers but the real benefit of his acquisition will be a reduced reliance on star forward Aaron Naughton.

Naughton has continually had to play against multiple opponents and has been forced to endure early wearand-tear on his body, including a knee injury that he has had to manage across much of his career.

The Bulldogs are hopeful the three-pronged forward line of he, Lobb and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan alongside smalls including Cody Weightman can test the AFL’s best defences.