Tom Liberatore has been ruled out indefinitely after the Western Bulldogs confirmed he was concussed by a stray boot late in Sunday’s loss to Hawthorn.
The 31-year-old’s health has been a major concern for the AFL club since he collapsed against Essendon last month.
Liberatore was put in concussion protocols at a time the Dogs said he was cleared of a diagnosis, later confirming they believed there was a delayed response to a concussive episode.
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In his return game against the Hawks over the weekend, he copped a head clash in the opening minutes but played on.
Worse was to come when Liberatore was cut open by the studs of an opponent’s boot in the dying stages.
Blood poured from the wound but Liberatore stood up, only to then stumble onto his back and wait for assistance.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge flagged the midfielder’s latest issue confirmed there was now “a bigger concern” for his health, with the club taking action on Monday.
“Tom Liberatore will miss this week’s clash against Richmond due to concussion,” the Dogs said.
“The midfielder suffered a knock to the head late in Sunday’s loss to Hawthorn, with the club’s medical team confirming that a concussive episode had occurred.
“Having suffered two concussions within a short space of time, Tom will be unavailable for an indefinite period as the club works through a thorough process before a return-to-play plan is determined.
“Tom’s health and wellbeing always remains the absolute priority during this period.”
Meanwhile, the AFL confirmed Liberatore would not have played against the Tigers regardless.
He received a one-match ban for a sling tackle on Hawthorn’s Will Day.
The concerns surrounding Liberatore’s health started with two concussions last year.
He was sandwiched in Round 6 and then copped an accidental knee to the head in Round 22.
Late in the Dogs’ clash with Essendon last month, he fell to the ground with nobody near him.
Liberatore said after the game he had lost his balance after tweaking his ankle earlier in term, declaring he had no symptoms and had full recollection of the incident.
He was cleared of concussion but put in the protocols — forcing him out of an important clash with St Kilda — and underwent a battery of tests.
“No regret,” Beveridge said of putting Liberatore on the sidelines.
“Our medical staff are as cautious as anyone you’ve ever come across and obviously concussion is a significant thing in the game now with players’ health, so we’re ultra conservative.
“The interesting thing about Tom’s situation was to come in and pass the concussion test and (appear) totally lucid, do interviews … so then everything was saying that he was OK.
“But ultimately, there was an episode.”
Beveridge stressed that if clubs missed a potential concussion, the AFL would alert them to it.
“Because it was late in the game too, I don’t think anyone was totally aware of it,” he said.
“But thankfully he seems like he’s OK.
“We’re ultra conservative and our medical staff will make sure we put him through the wringer to ensure that, other than the head side of things, that everything else is in good working order, because he obviously plays an extremely combative game.”
Beveridge, who was speaking four days after the match, said Bulldogs medical staff were doing further investigations on Liberatore to see if there were any issues beyond concussion.
“They feel like there was a concussive episode that he had some delayed response to and that’s what they put the stumble down to,” the coach said.
“But he still passed all the tests.
“So that’s why they’re going into some other investigations to make sure there’s nothing else.”
– with AAP
