Bulldogs legend Tony Liberatore has blasted Gerard Whateley’s comments about his former club, saying they were "totally out of line".
The 1990 Brownlow medallist called into SEN Breakfast to respond to Whateley's criticism of the team after their elimination final loss to St Kilda, alleging they aren't much more beyond a quality midfield.
Whateley declared Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge doesn't have the personnel to go deep into finals and that they are "long away from it".
"I’m going to borrow a phrase from someone I talk to, I think Luke Beveridge does a phenomenal job with what he’s got but I think he’s building a 1000-piece jigsaw (puzzle) with 920 pieces and convincing people that he’s got it under control because he’s such a good tactical and game day coach,” Whateley said on SEN on Monday.
“The fact that they can’t vaguely challenge for the top four and now they can’t win elimination finals, I actually think that tells you everything you need to know and I reckon they’re a long way from it.
“They’re all midfield, I think they’ve got one of the great midfields and nothing else. Beveridge does all his work moving players to compensate for it and the most important result is the way he used Hayden Crozier (in the elimination final).
“He’s brilliant with the way he manipulates what he doesn’t have.”
Liberatore called in to SEN on Tuesday, with his son Tom, a current Bulldogs star, apart of the team attacked by Whateley.
“I just think we’re one or two players short,” Liberatore said.
“Is Aaron Naughton nothing? Is Tim English nothing? Give me Naughton any day over Tom Hawkins, right here, right now.
“He’s just come off from a broken cheekbone and he had a really good last quarter where he took three big pack marks and nearly won the game for us.
“Tom Hawkins kicked five behinds and was beaten by a player (Trent McKenzie) who was let go from Gold Coast and has done an amazing job from Port Adelaide.
“I just think your comments are flawed, I believe strongly in this and never rang up and mentioned this – I think we’re doing a good job and we’re just a couple of players short.
“How hard you went on us yesterday from my understanding from a friend of mine, is totally out of line.”
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