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Tom Liberatore suffered a headbutt less than five minutes into their rematch, alarming commentators following his recent health scare.
The Western Bulldogs the premiership midfielder collapsed in the late stages of his side’s loss to Essendon on April 12 and was placed in concussion protocols despite avoiding a third diagnosis in less than a year.
Watch the video above: Liberatore cops head-on clash minutes into second leg kick-off.
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Liberatore was due to return last week against Fremantle but he suffered a stomach problem 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 collision at some speed.
The 31-year-old was chasing a loose ball from a center rebound when he collided with Hawks veteran Carl Amon.
Liberatore quickly got back to his feet and took the free kick for high contact.
He was involved again as the Bulldogs kicked their third goal of the afternoon in short order, but soon left for the break.
Cameras showed Liberatore shaking his head as he spoke to a club official on the bench.
“He’s had a recent history as well, so the doctors will definitely look at that and make an assessment,” Jordan Lewis said on Fox Sports.
Liberatore shook off the key fumble to collect 10 sacks in the first quarter, tied for the most with teammate Bailey Dale.
Concerns about Liberatore’s health began with two strikes last year.
He was pinned in round 6 and then hit an accidental knee to the head in round 22.
Late in the Dogs’ clash with Essendon last month, he fell to the ground with no one by his side.
Liberatore said after the game that he lost his balance after breaking his ankle earlier in the semester, saying he had no symptoms and fully remembered the incident.
He has been cleared of concussion but has been put on the protocols – which ruled him out of an important clash with St Kilda – and has undergone a battery of tests.
“I have no regrets,” Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said of putting Liberatore on the sidelines.
“Our medical staff is as cautious as anyone you’ll ever come across and obviously concussion is an important thing in the game now with player health, so we’re being extremely conservative.
“The interesting thing about Tom’s situation was him going in and passing the concussion test and (seeming to be) completely transparent, giving interviews … so then everything said he was fine.
“But eventually 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 as well, I don’t think anyone was fully aware of it,” he said.
“But thankfully it seems to be OK.
“We’re being extremely conservative and our medical staff will make sure we put him through the wringer to make sure everything else is in good working order other than the head thing because he’s obviously playing an extremely grappling game.”
Beveridge, speaking four days after the game, said the Bulldogs’ medical staff were carrying out further tests on Liberatore to see if there were any problems other than concussion.
“They feel like there was a traumatic episode where he had some sort of delayed reaction, and that’s what they’re chalking it up to,” the coach said.
“But he still passed all the tests.
“That’s why they’re starting some other investigations to make sure there’s nothing else.”
– with AAP
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