The Western Bulldogs have not set a ceiling for midfielder Tom Liberatore’s improvement this year, putting faith in the continued rapid development of the 20-year-old in 2013.

Second to only captain Matthew Boyd in average clearances last year, Liberatore ranked 15^th in the league in that statistical category – amassing almost six clearances per game.

Development Coach Ashley Hansen said the coaches have posed a challenge to the 20-year-old to build on his strengths and forge a reputation as one of the competition’s elite around the stoppages.

“Our challenge to Libba is to not only be the best in the Club, which we think he is pretty close to at the moment… but to be the best in the [competition] and to get… recognition throughout the competition as one of those players,” Hansen said.

“We haven’t put a ceiling on his development and that is the challenge we have put to him going forward, that is what he has to strive to be.”

While Liberatore has found his niche winning clearances, Hansen said the Bulldogs also need the determined midfielder to find a balance between his contested side and his work on the spread.

“He is starting to really get that nice balance of being really productive inside the contest, but also doing some great defensive work for us away from the contest and covering the ground a lot better,” he said.

“His point of difference lever is always going to be his strong contested work, getting his first hands off the contest and hopefully setting it up for our outside runners.

“But we see a balance and it is important for team defence that he starts to cover the ground now and covers outlets and covers the most dangerous… and that is what he is bringing to his game this year and that is just off the back of a strong pre-season.” 

The father-son selection’s increased tank and outside game was on show on Friday night against Hawthorn, helping set up an influential goal in the first term and contributing to a number of forward plays.

Accumulating 21 possessions, four clearances and five tackles in the round two NAB Cup clash, Liberatore looked well equipped to build on his form last year and adopt more responsibility through the midfield.

“He’s done a lot of running, he’s got a bigger body now that can cover the ground and we are really starting to see the rewards of that which is really exciting for the whole Club,” Hansen said.  

“Libba is so great with his hands, with his clean hands… and because he is so hard and moves the ball well in that contested situation, we can win more stoppages which is really important obviously going forward.”