Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has declared hard-nosed midfielder Tom Liberatore ready to return following his bouts of concussion throughout the year, pending he gets through the main training session.
Liberatore has had a staggered start to 2024, featuring in six games thus far but will be looking to return for the first time since Round 8 against Hawthorn.
Beveridge said the 31-year-old has ticked all boxes and has been in full training for a few weeks, with one more hurdle to overcome to face Brisbane.
The club will also give fellow midfielder Ed Richards another week as he continues to work through his concussive episode suffered in the loss to Sydney.
"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.
"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 stirring win against Collingwood last Friday night, the Bulldogs will look at the availability of small forward Laitham Vandermeer while James Harmes will be pulled from the side with a hamstring injury as well as Sam Darcy (suspension).
However, the club can breathe a sigh of relief as Rhylee West was cleared of any 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 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."
Thank you, Dogs fans! โค๏ธ๐ค๐
For a third successive season, weโve broken our all-time membership record, reaching 57,151 to date in 2024, surpassing last yearโs record of 56,302. pic.twitter.com/f1WqQpxF7m
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) June 5, 2024
Beveridge also announced that the club has broken its membership record, congratulating the commitment from its members and its supporters.
For a third successive season, the Western Bulldogs have broken their all-time membership record, reaching 57,151 to date in 2024, surpassing last year's record of 56,302.
Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains spoke on the club's recent feat.
โThis is a milestone that we've reached together with our dedicated and passionate Bulldogs family,โ Bains said.
โOur members are the lifeblood of our club and their unwavering support pushes our players and staff to new heights each day, particularly as we strive for sustained success on and off the field.โ
