Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge admits that midfielder Tom Liberatore is still at risk regarding his latest concussion.
Fears arose about whether Liberatore would need to retire after suffering a head knock in Round 8 against Hawthorn, making it his fourth concussion in the past year. Additionally, the 32-year-old had a strange collapse three weeks earlier during a game with Essendon, which was later confirmed to be concussion-related.
The AFL intervened, sending Liberatore to neuro experts who have since cleared him to play. Beveridge expressed relief that Liberatore’s health is improving.
“A lot of time and commitment to ensuring Tom’s wellbeing has been prioritized,” Beveridge said on Tuesday. “Physically, I think he’ll be okay. He’s been able to do everything… we’ll introduce him into the main football drills before his return to play, and if he’s comfortable, he’ll rejoin the team. We’ve said it’s 2-3 weeks.”
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
However, Beveridge remains concerned about the “topic of concussion,” which has impacted Liberatore and led to the retirement of three players in the past six months, including Bulldogs youngster Aiden O’Driscoll.
“It’s a challenge to talk about,” Beveridge said. “The topic of concussion and its effect on our game and player health is very sensitive. It’s not like he’s out of the woods. When Tom returns, there will still be nervousness about him possibly getting another knock.”
Beveridge highlighted the ongoing anxiety about concussions, emphasizing that even though players like Liberatore might return to play, the risk remains whenever they face collision situations on the field.
