Western Bulldogs clearance specialist Tom Liberatore is set to make his return, boosting his team’s chances against the Brisbane Lions in their upcoming AFL match.
Liberatore has been sidelined for six games this season due to two concussions. The 32-year-old midfielder initially collapsed on the field against Essendon in round five and sustained another injury during his comeback against Hawthorn in round eight.
The Bulldogs have taken a cautious approach to his return, gradually increasing his workload after he cleared concussion protocols last month. Liberatore is expected to play against Brisbane at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
“Tom has built some great continuity in his training in the last few weeks,” said Bulldogs head of sports medicine Chris Bell. “He has progressed as well as we could have hoped and ticked every possible box to declare his availability. If he gets through main training Wednesday like I expect, he will return to availability.”
Midfielder Ed Richards is also likely to play against the Lions after missing the previous round’s 18-point win over Collingwood due to concussion. This victory marked the Bulldogs’ third win in their past four games, improving their record to 6-6 and bringing them close to the top eight.
However, the win came at a cost, with James Harmes and Laitham Vandermeer suffering hamstring injuries. Vandermeer, who has a corked hamstring, might still play against Brisbane, but Harmes is out until after the mid-season bye.
“Scans have confirmed that James has suffered a low-grade hamstring injury,” Bell said. “I expect him to miss the next 3-4 weeks of footy.”
Additionally, versatile runner Jason Johannisen has sustained a calf injury before his return from a hamstring strain and won’t be available until at least round 17.
