Tom Liberatore copped a head clash less than five minutes into his return game, worrying commentators following his recent health scare.
The Western Bulldogs premiership midfielder collapsed in the late stages of his side’s loss to Essendon on April 12 and was put into concussion protocols despite avoiding a third diagnosis in less than a year.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Liberatore cops head clash minutes into return game.
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Liberatore was due to return last week against Fremantle but he suffered a stomach bug at the 11th hour and was unable to recover in time to play.
Finally back on the field on Sunday against Hawthorn, he was quickly back on the bench after a head clash at some speed.
The 31-year-old was chasing a loose ball out of a centre bounce when he collided with Hawks veteran Karl Amon.
Liberatore returned quickly to his feet and took the free kick for high contact.
He was involved again when the Bulldogs kicked their third goal of the afternoon in quick time but was soon off for a rest.
Cameras showed Liberatore shaking his head as he spoke with a club official on the bench.
“He’s had recent history, too, so doctors will clearly have a look at that and make an assessment,” Jordan Lewis said in commentary on Fox Sports.
Liberatore shook off the head clash to gather 10 disposals in the first quarter, equal best with teammate Bailey Dale.
The concerns surrounding Liberatore stem from two knocks 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,” Dogs coach Luke 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