Tom Liberatore has been forced out of the Western Bulldogs’ important clash with St Kilda next week as the club seeks answers into his mystery collapse.
The 31-year-old fell to the turf late in Friday night’s defeat to Essendon, panicking his nearby opponent, but he returned to his feet and played out the contest.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Leading theory emerges on Tom Liberatore’s collapse.
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Liberatore, who pointed to an ankle issue, passed a post-match concussion test and still reported no symptoms the following morning.
Yet with the Bulldogs both unsure of the exact cause and well aware of the heavy focus on their handling of the scare, the midfielder was put in concussion protocols on Saturday.
“I don’t think Tom is too happy with that,” 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary reported.
The Dogs acknowledged the “concerning nature” of the footage and said Liberatore will be monitored during his stint on the sidelines.
“This decision has been taken with an abundance of caution, with Tom’s health and wellbeing the absolute priority,” the club said.
The Bulldogs’ leading theory for the fall, which Liberatore broke with both hands, surrounds exhaustion.
Whatever the case, it’s the third time in 12 months that Liberatore will miss a game due to concussion protocols.
He was sandwiched in Round 6 last year and then copped an accidental knee to the head in Round 22.
In the minutes before he went to ground on Friday night, Liberatore copped a hard tackle and needed to catch his breath but there is no suggestion he was concussed in that hit.
“Everything is good, I sorta came up and lost balance of my ankle,” he told ABC radio after the match.
“I tweaked my ankle just at the start of the last quarter. So you know, I relayed when I got up I fell back down.
“I’m all fine, no symptoms and full recollection.”
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said the experienced midfielder had been checked and cleared of any issues.
“For some reason he lost his footing and stumbled, but he’s fine,” he said in the post-match press conference.
“He’s been looked after and there’s no concussion or anything like that.
“We were coming in (to the changeroom) just making sure he’s OK and he’s apparently fine.”
Liberatore was among the Bulldogs’ best against Essendon, racking up 10 clearances from 25 dispoals, and will be sorely missed against the Saints on Thursday night.
– with AAP
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