Western Bulldogs face anxious wait as Tom Liberatore injures knee in win over Richmond

A left knee injury to one noteworthy Bulldog called Tom overshadowed the debut of another Tom in the tricolours at the Whitten Oval on Saturday.

The Western Bulldogs edged out Richmond by 22 points but the concerns surrounding midfield star Tom Liberatore will have new Dogs coach Luke Beveridge more than a little apprehensive.

The reigning Charlie Sutton medallist lasted just over 15 minutes in front of a packed house at the Dogs' traditional home, hobbling off after twisting his knee awkwardly in front of the Tigers' bench, and the sympathetic eyes of Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.

Liberatore had been chasing a ball towards the boundary line when he was fallen on by a late-arriving Tyrone Vickery.

He lay on the ground in clear pain for around a minute, eventually hobbling around the boundary line. Out of action for the remainder of the game, Liberatore was spotted at quarter time with the affected knee heavily iced.

On the day their star forward was unveiled to the throng, worries over their 22-year-old engine room general will leave Dogs faithful anxious until further information can be gleaned.

It was a   shame for the hosts, whose pre-season opener was otherwise a day to celebrate. Full-strength bar the provisionally suspended Stewart Crameri, this was meant to be one for the 'Sons of the Scray' to savour.

An old-fashioned roar went up at the Geelong Road end when Marcus Bontempelli squeezed one through from 30 metres to put his side in front deep into the final quarter, while another a moment later from Jack Macrae put paid to the hopes of a valiant but understrength Tigers team. A couple more would still be added, and the Dogs ended up winning 12.17 (89) to 1.9.4 (67).

Club president Peter Gordon – who had presided over more momentous days at this venue a quarter of a century earlier – addressed the crowd prior to the game, with AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick by his side.

Boyd (of the Tom variety, former skipper Matthew Boyd was there too) was always going be a focal point. The last time a game was played at the ground, the $6 million man was one year old. On Saturday he began a seven-year journey aimed at ultimately delivering a second flag to the weary in the west.

Boyd had his first disposal inside the first thirty seconds, meeting a Lin Jong kick on the bounce at half forward, dishing off an ineffective handpass. Stood early inside 50 by Todd Elton, he presented nicely without having a major impact in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs were able to keep their promise of Boyd ruck stints early in the piece, by the ten-minute mark of the first term the teenager had attended his first centre restart of the year.

Ultimately he finished with 13 disposals, three marks, and one goal courtesy of a downfield free kick.

But this day was never meant to be about Richmond. The Tigers were happy to accommodate for the Bulldogs' homecoming parade, resting the top nine vote-getters in their best and fairest last year.

The Tigers were captained by the man who came tenth in that count — Steven Morris — who will be bumped from that post come March, let alone the first home and away game in April.

Putting the Liberatore shock behind them, the Bulldogs lifted as the sun came out in the second term. An old Dog in a new position — captain Bob Murphy — received one of the biggest cheers of the day when he glided through the middle of the oval. After a sluggish start, four straight goals to the Geelong Rd end before the break looked to have turned the game for good.

Jack Redpath, the monolith from Kyneton led and marked well, bagging a couple of goals. On this showing he looked as likely as anyone to play the role of second banana to Boyd.

An 18-point buffer at the long change looked to be enough.

But the Bulldogs were wasteful, unable to take advantage of their inside-50 dominance.

For long periods the of the game, the ball was locked deep in Dogs' attacking territory, but promisingly for Hardwick, this composite Richmond AFL-VFL team absorbed pressure manfully, forcing the Dogs to difficult angles by clogging up the arc.

Having grown his hair over summer, Matt Arnott's form suggested a Samson like quality, as he impressed with a busy first term including a nice goal on the run from 35m. He continued to have an impact, and a second major after the three-quarter time siren gave Richmond an unlikely lead.

Former Cat Taylor Hunt was also handy for the Tigers, while mature-age rookie Kane Lambert made a strong case for promotion to the senior list come round one with a hustling game through the midfield.

Injury-prone Bulldogs youngster Josh Prudden was a late casualty, stretchered off the ground after a heavy collision with teammate Koby Stevens.