Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has stated that tough midfielder Tom Liberatore is set to return after dealing with concussions throughout the year, provided he successfully completes the main training session.
Liberatore has had a staggered start to 2024, appearing in six games so far, and is aiming to return for the first time since Round 8 against Hawthorn.
Beveridge said the 31-year-old has met all the necessary requirements and has been in full training for a few weeks, with just one more hurdle to clear before facing Brisbane.
The club will also give midfielder Ed Richards another week to recover from his concussion suffered in the loss to Sydney.
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“Just get through training,” Beveridge told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s been training with the group and getting through most things. We anticipate that he will be okay. But we’re going to give Ed Richards another week, so he won’t play this week. There’s a bit of uncertainty around selection.”
After a strong win against Collingwood last Friday night, the Bulldogs are assessing the availability of small forward Laitham Vandermeer while James Harmes will be sidelined with a hamstring injury and Sam Darcy due to suspension. However, the club can breathe a sigh of relief as Rhylee West was cleared of suspension for his contest with Pies defender Jeremy Howe.
“If Laitham gets through training, we’ve got to consider whether that’s a significant risk or not to play him,” Beveridge continued. “We think he got a knock which caused bleeding in his hamstring rather than a soft-tissue injury, so he can actually train today. We lose Sam, ‘Westy’ got off, we lose ‘Harmsey’ as well so the team will look a bit different.”
Beveridge also announced that the club has set a new membership record, praising the dedication of its members and supporters.
For the third consecutive season, the Western Bulldogs have broken their all-time membership record, reaching 57,151 members in 2024, surpassing last year’s record of 56,302.
Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains commented on the club’s achievement, stating, “This milestone has been reached together with our dedicated and passionate Bulldogs family. Our members are the lifeblood of our club, and their unwavering support drives our players and staff to new heights every day, especially as we aim for sustained success on and off the field.”
