Tom Liberatore made a successful return to competitive football, influential in the Western Bulldogs’ Intra Club match on Saturday at Victoria University Whitten Oval.
 
The 2014 Sutton Medallist played all four quarters of the Club’s friendly hit-out, starting in the centre square for the Blue Team, before also spending stints forward.
 
The 23-year-old had no problems finding the football, and was an imposing force around the stoppages.
 
Power-forward Jack Redpath booted four first half goals for the Blue Team to lead the goalkickers list, with seven multiple goal-kickers on the field.
 
All-Australian Jake Stringer kicked three goals for the White Team, along with Nathan Hrovat.

Top draft pick Josh Dunkley made an impression for the Blue Team, kicking two goals of his own, while also getting the opportunity to move into the centre-square in stints.
 
After a nervous start by both sides, Redpath slotted the first major of the game, a set shot from the Barkly Street end pocket, to give the Blue Team the early advantage.
 
The big-man then goaled again just minutes later, edging his opponent under the ball at the top of the square to mark and then convert the set shot.
 
Both teams brought their defensive intensity early, with the ball bouncing between the arcs as both sides picked-off intercept marks across their respective half-back lines denying clean forward 50m entries.
 
Matt Suckling had his first chance to test his combination across half-back with skipper Bob Murphy, Shane Biggs and Easton Wood; while rookie Brad Lynch and draftee Bailey Williams showed some promising glimpses for the White Team coming out of defence.
 
Rookie ruckman Luke Goetz started forward, marking twice on the lead and converting set-shots from directly in front to kick two first quarter goals.
 
The White Team ensured the quarter time margin was just seven-points, with goals to Jake Stringer, Jordan Roughead and Nathan Hrovat.
 
A four goal to three second term by the Blue Team, ensured they had a two goal lead at the main break.
 
The play of the term belonged to the White Team though, as Jason Johannisen made an electric run off half-back, to send a low spearing ball inside forward 50m to Jake Stringer. The mark came off hands, but Stringer recovered to deliver the handball to Hrovat at speed who ran in to the open goal.
 
After the main break, the White Team were the first to hit the scoreboard through a Jake Stringer dribble-kick goal, before the Blue Team replied with goals to Bailey Dale and Dunkley, both originating from slingshot moves off half-back by skipper Bob Murphy.
 
The White Team then pressed, kicking the last three goals of the term through Hrovat, McLean and Wallis.
 
Wallis’ goal from a set shot put the men in white ahead by one-point at the final change, hitting the lead for the first time since the half-way stage of the first term.
 
The lead was short-lived for the White Team, with back-to-back goals from the Blue Team through Bailey Dale and Shane Biggs giving them an11-point advantage.
 
Tory Dickson goaled late for the White Team, but the siren came to soon, handing a seven point win to the Blue Team.
 
 
WB BLUE:  4.1 (25)   8.4 (52) 10.4 (64)  12.7 (79)
 
WB WHITE:  3.0 (18)  6.2 (38)  10.5 (65) 11.6 (72)
 
GOALS
BLUE: Redpath 4, Dunkley 2,  Dale 2, Goetz 2, Honeychurch, Biggs
WHITE: Stringer 3, Hrovat 3, Dickson 2, Roughead, Wallis, Mclean
 
BEST
BLUE: Liberatore, Macrae, Dunkley, Redpath
WHITE: Stringer, Hrovat, Dahlhaus, Wallis

Jake Stringer brushes aside some would-be tacklers. Picture: AFL Media

Jack Macrae gets his kick away. Picture: AFL Media

Liam Picken fires off a handball. Picture: AFL Media

Tom Liberatore feels the heat at Whitten Oval. Picture: AFL Media

Matt Suckling unloads on his left boot. Picture: AFL Media