Dogs lock up sons of guns Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore
IT'S official: Hot father-son prospects Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore have joined the Western Bulldogs.
Trade HQ
Don't miss out on the headlines from Trade HQ. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IT'S official: Hot father-son prospects Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore have joined the Western Bulldogs.
Under the bidding process, Wallis this morning went to the Dogs with their first live pick in the national draft - selection 22.
Liberatore went at selection 40, completing what has been viewed as the big steal of the draft.
Both Wallis and Liberatore are midfielders who were seen as top 15 players.
Port Adelaide bidded for Wallis, forcing the Dogs to use their first pick on the son of Steve Wallis.
Sydney forced the Dogs to use their second pick on Liberatore, the son of Tony, after putting a bid in.
Wallis and Liberatore are childhood friends and last month played in the Calder Cannons' under-18 premiership team.
Wallis, the son of former Bulldogs captain Steve, had 47 possessions in the under-18 grand final.
Liberatore is the son of 1990 Brownlow medallist Tony.
"It's been a dream that's come to fruition now - I can remember 10 years ago thinking about (it), I've barracked for the Bulldogs all my life, the same with Tom,'' Wallis said.
But Wallis is acutely aware of the hard work ahead.
"People say the easy stuff is getting drafted, it's when you get to a club and do that pre-season and you've got to earn the respect of your (teammates) that the hard work actually starts,'' he said.
"It's my ambition to play next year, but a lot of things have to fall in place.''
Liberatore, like his father, is an inside midfielder and said it was a big load off his mind that he and his best friend are now confirmed as Bulldogs players.
"It's very big honour to come to come down here and even bigger to be with my best mate as well,'' Tom said.
"It's a pretty big relief, especially this time of year with exams, it's good to get it off your chest and be a bit more relaxed coming into the last part of Year 12.''
There was no bid for Jacob Brennan, the son of former West Coast player Michael Brennan, meaning the Eagles can wait until their last draft pick before selecting him.
- with AAP