AFL 2024: Tom Liberatore’s future remains clouded at Western Bulldogs

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge reveals he spoke at a “very emotional” players’ meeting for a retired young Bulldog.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the club is thinking of medically retired teenager Aiden O’Driscoll after a ‘tragic’ call was made on his career. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says medically retired teenager Aiden O’Driscoll is firmly in his players’ thoughts after a “really heartbreaking” week ahead of Saturday’s clash against GWS.

Uncertainty remains over whether the playing future of champion midfielder Tom Liberatore will also be in the hands of the AFL’s independent concussion panel.

Beveridge said the Bulldogs’ football staff had still not received “any instruction” from the AFL on how to manage Liberatore’s recovery from a fourth concussion in 12 months against Hawthorn in round 8.

The star midfielder joined training again at Whitten Oval on Thursday as he celebrated his 32nd birthday.

“I’m not sure (about the panel) … I was asked that question the other day, and we haven’t had any instruction in that regard,” Beveridge said.

Tom Liberatore has been training at Whitten Oval but remains out indefinitely after suffering four concussions in 12 months, including two this season. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

“The best thing to do with Tom is we’ll give updates internally from our medical experts, and I’m just a senior coach, so I’m not really equipped to comment too much on it.

“He’s in today and he’ll be training, but as far as the prospect of what’s coming up for him … I just need to leave that to the medical field.”

Beveridge said O’Driscoll’s forced retirement after he was hospitalised with a concussion sustained in a January training session had been announced to teammates and coaches in a “very emotional” meeting.

“Anthony Hipsley, our doctor spoke, and Aiden followed up and I spoke after that. It was an emotional 10 or 15 minutes, and Aiden was obviously extremely choked up,” he said.

“Life’s more important than a sporting code, and we reminded him that we’re here to support him on his pathway now.

“Our players will think a little bit about Aiden this week, and it’s probably a reminder to us over the journey … our time in the game is short. Covet your time, do your best and stay in there as long as you can, because Aiden hasn’t had that opportunity.”

Gun midfielder Ryley Sanders is set to play at least one more game in the VFL as he works on rounding out his game. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

Beveridge said the Bulldogs were determined to find a new level of consistency as they prepared for an away clash against arch rival GWS.

He said changes to the side that demolished Richmond were unlikely, with Laitham Vandermeer (shin) to play if he recovered well from Thursday’s session.

Ryley Sanders had 42 disposals in a dominant inside midfield performance in the VFL last week, but Beveridge suggested there was no spot for him available as the Bulldogs focused on getting unspecified features “ingrained in his game”.

“There’s never been any question of stability … I think we’re 4-5, but I think the main word people keep using for us is ‘inconsistent’, and we wear that – it’s something that we’re applying ourselves to change,” he said.

“We play like a team which you want to support when we’re playing well … we can score heavily when we’re at our best, we can defend well, but we want to do both of those more consistently, and that’s what the players and the coaches are all talking about.

“We’re really comfortable with the actual designs on the way we want to play, and now we see it executed for periods of time, it’s just more often, that’s what we’re after.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Tom Liberatore’s future remains clouded at Western Bulldogs