When the football world challenged Tony Liberatore, the Dogs gave him a home.
After failing to register a senior game at North Melbourne, Liberatore crossed to Footscray in 1986. He played just 18 games over four years leading up to the 1990 season.
Only a year after the Club narrowly avoided a merger with Fitzroy, Liberatore’s Brownlow Medal win in 1990 was testament to his hard work, determination and the spirit of the Footscray faithful.
Liberatore (18 votes) won by one vote over Collingwood’s Graham Wright (17) and Carton’s Stephen Silvagni (16).
“I always believe, anything you do in life, if you persevere and you give it all you’ve got and keep on working (you’ll succeed),” Liberatore said in his victory speech.
“At the start of the year, I walked up to Terry (coach, Terry Wheeler) and I didn’t even make the night match squads. I was really thinking about going in the internal draft. That day Terry said to me, ‘we’re playing against Collingwood in a practice match down at the basin and we’ve picked you for this match’.
“I thought, just through the love of Footscray and all my mates down there, I thought to myself, ‘well, I’ll stick it out for another year.’ I spoke to Dougie Hawkins and he really convinced me to stay.”
From his 19 matches in 1990, he averaged 26 disposals and 4.3 tackles. He was ranked first in the league for tackles and sixth for disposals per game.
“(In) football, playing at league level, you’re on the fence,” he said.
“It just goes to show, guys who probably aren’t really good enough are on the border of playing senior football. Sometimes when they get an opportunity, they play really well, and I think that’s what happened to me.”
Liberatore finished his career with 283 games, retiring from football in 2002. His Brownlow Medal acceptance speech epitomised the Bulldog spirit and the rebirth of a club.
“I’d like to thank Terry Wheeler for his efforts in resurrecting our side this year and helping me and believing in me as a league footballer. I’ve been really thankful of that,” he said.
“To the people from the western suburbs, who’ve backed us all the way, and really put Footscray back on the map - it’s been a great effort all round.”
Liberatore is one of 10 Footscray/Western Bulldogs players to have won a Brownlow Medal since the award was established in 1924.
