Tony Liberatore booted out at Whitten Oval
Why, Libba?
Tony Liberatore booted out at Whitten Oval
Damian Barrett | March 18, 2009 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25203026-19775,00.html

TONY Liberatore last night was turfed off the Whitten Oval by the Western Bulldogs staff after trying to use the ground as a training venue. A Whitten Oval employee said Liberatore and his squad arrived unannounced at the ground with his new team, West Footscray, at about 6pm and began warm-up drills.

The Bulldogs, who run the Whitten Oval on behalf of the Footscray community, were incensed as the ground was being used by about 60 locals, including schoolchildren, involved with an AFL Rec Footy group.

A Bulldogs official confronted the West Footscray group and told them the ground had been booked by Rec Footy.

The players and Liberatore, in his first year as coach of the Western Region Football League club, packed up their gear and departed.

Contacted last night about the incident involving Liberatore, a one-time favourite son at the Bulldogs, club CEO Campbell Rose said: "Look, we were a little surprised that he would attempt to use the Whitten Oval in this way without asking anyone, let alone booking it.

"Yes, one of our staff spoke to him and they left."

Liberatore has on several occasions criticised Rose, only last year saying he didn't think the CEO was right for the club.

can't believe herald sun would even bother publishing that, if it was anyone other than libba it wouldn't have raised an eyebrow

That is pretty funny though. Just rocks up!

Well, he should have at least told someone as a matter of courtesy, but if it wasn't already prebooked should have been allowed to use it.

That man left more blood, sweat and tears on that grass than anybody, and I really wish the Dogs and Libba would reconcile, as well as the fans. Nobody loved footy more than Libba, and very few have loved the Bulldogs more.

Well The Age today mentioned that the Dogs have been tracking Tony's son for a while now so despite this I am sure there is no serious hostility. Hopefully Tom will become a Bulldog, we can welcome back Tony and live happily ever after!