EDFL 2019: AFL Brownlow Medal winner Tony Liberatore to play for Moonee Valley’s reserves

Western Bulldogs legend and Brownlow medallist Tony Liberatore is set to take the field in a suburban footy league this season, 17 years after retiring from the top level. Here’s where to catch the AFL great.

Tony Liberatore remains a picture of fitness at the age of 53. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Moonee Valley’s aspiring senior players are set to have a Brownlow medallist as a teammate this season.

Tony Liberatore, who claimed the AFL’s highest individual honour in 1990, is likely to play “four or five games minimum” for the Fog’s reserves team in 2019.

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The 53-year-old has played thirds for Aberfeldie in recent years and also takes the field for Coburg’s Superules side.

Since retiring from the top level in 2002 after 283 games for the Western Bulldogs, he has coached Box Hill, West Footscray and Sunbury and held an assistant’s role at Carlton.

With his sons Tom and Oliver playing for Western Bulldogs and Calder Cannons respectively, Liberatore will line up for Moonee Valley when there’s no clash.

Tony Liberatore celebrates the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 flag with his son Tom. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s still good. He can still get the ball and is still strong,” Valley reserves coach Dom Condello said.

“(He will teach them) how to play the game in the right spirit I suppose.

“I know he probably didn’t have the best reputation back in the day, but it’s not about that now. He loves the game so much.

“It’s about him giving back to the sport, and that’s what he does.”

Condello coached Liberatore when he was playing thirds for Aberfeldie and said he would fill a role in the midfield and forward half.

But what about his new teammates, who will have the chance to run out alongside an AFL great?

“I think they do get a very big buzz,” Condello said.

“They did at Aberfeldie. I’m only new to Moonee Valley, so I assume it would be the same sort of thing.

“He used to coach Cory McGrath, who is playing at Moonee Valley, when he was at Carlton, so it’s sort of come full circle.

“The good thing about it is people hold him in high esteem. What it does when he’s playing at these levels, it gives people a chance to play with somebody or against somebody who’s a (big) name.

“It gives them something they would have never had before in their life.”

Liberatore is a Western Bulldogs’ life member and was named on the interchange bench in the club’s Team of the Century.