Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has faced criticism for dismissing concerns about Tom Liberatore suffering a concussion during the club’s defeat to Essendon on Friday, despite the star player collapsing on the field at Marvel Stadium.
Essendon rebounded from their previous AFL match with a decisive 29-point victory over the Western Bulldogs. The loss was further marred by an incident involving Liberatore late in the game, where he fell to the ground and remained prone for several moments, prompting a worried Darcy Parish to rush to his aid.
Despite these alarming scenes, Liberatore managed to rise to his feet and continue playing.
"He's fine. For some reason he lost his footing and stumbled, but he's fine. He's being looked after and there's no concussion or anything like that."
– Luke Beveridge on the Tom Liberatore incident pic.twitter.com/KrPYzfbtSC
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 12, 2024
Throughout the match, Liberatore endured several heavy collisions, including one with Todd Goldstein resulting in a free kick for Essendon’s big player. Additionally, he received a bump from Essendon star Jake Stringer just before his fall and appeared disoriented upon standing back up.
Former Hawthorn player Ben Dixon expressed concern about Liberatore’s condition, stating that staggering after such incidents was troubling and should prompt a thorough evaluation by the Bulldogs’ medical staff.
However, Beveridge downplayed the incident after the match, attributing Liberatore’s fall to a simple stumble and asserting that there was no concussion.
Nevertheless, fans voiced skepticism and called for action against Beveridge, citing negligence in addressing potential concussion symptoms. Even Liberatore himself, speaking with Channel 7’s chief football reporter Mitch Cleary and ABC in post-match interviews, played down any concerns about concussion, attributing the fall to an ankle tweak and denying experiencing any symptoms.
The incident near the end of the game when Tom Liberatore collapsed in the centre of the ground… pic.twitter.com/XlG7EhtoE5
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 12, 2024
Despite Liberatore’s reassurances, fans pointed out the nature of his fall and Parish’s immediate reaction to call for medical assistance, suggesting a more serious issue than a mere stumble.
The AFL’s concussion policy, implemented in 2023 and retained for the 2024 season, emphasizes the importance of player safety and prompt assessment of head injuries.
