After two worrying incidents and six games missed Tom Liberatore could return for the Western Bulldogs
He had his head split open and collapsed on the field but the doctors have cleared a star Bulldog to return.
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Western Bulldogs gun Tom Liberatore could be cleared to make his AFL return as soon as this Friday against Brisbane after a series of concussions having “ticked every possible box” to be ready.
But Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen has suffered another setback, injuring his calf over the weekend as he rehabbed his hamstring injury and won’t be back for at least six weeks.
Liberatore hasn’t played since suffering a second concussion for the season against Hawthorn in round eight, having missed six games this season due to protocols after also collapsing behind play against Essendon in round five.
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
He needed clearance form external specialists just to return to training but the 32-year-old has been training solidly for over a month and could play against the Lions on Friday night.
“Tom has built some great continuity in his training in the last few weeks,” Bulldogs Head of Sports Medicine, Chris Bell said.
“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.”
Ed Richards, who has filled the midfield hole left by Liberatore, is also set to return after his own concussion with a decision to be made over the next 48-72 hours.
But James Harmes is set for a stint on the sidelines after damaging his hamstring in last week’s win over Collingwood.
“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.”
Laitham Vandermeer, who left the same game in the second quarter with a hamstring issue, could yet take on the Lions with after scans
confirmed a “pocket of fluid surrounding his hamstring” related to a cork.
Originally published as After two worrying incidents and six games missed Tom Liberatore could return for the Western Bulldogs
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