The mark of a team’s character is often reflected in how it responds to challenges, and according to Tom Liberatore the emerging Western Bulldogs playing group is made of the right stuff.
 
Speaking to BulldogsTV after receiving the Doug Hawkins Medal as runner-up in the Western Bulldogs’ best and fairest vote count, Liberatore was quick to turn attention from his own individual achievements to those of the team.
 
In a home-and-away season that put the young Dogs to the test, Liberatore was most proud of the way the playing group responded when it was tested in the middle of the season.
 
“I think the best thing was mid-year we had to address [a couple of things] after a rough patch.”
 
“The most pleasing thing is that we could hinder [opposition] momentum and get things back on our terms and I think that was the best thing about how we went about it.”
 
“There was no sense of breaking up, or going away from each other, we just stuck together and the results came.”
 
Finishing the season as the AFL’s number one ranked clearance player and second for contested possessions, Liberatore said Wednesday’s night’s awards ceremony provided a good opportunity to pause and reflect on progress made in 2013.
 
“Both from an individual point of view and collectively, it’s good to see, I suppose, what’s unfolded the last four or five months and it’s definitely a good way to kick-back and reminisce and enjoy the year that was.”
 
Liberatore (242 votes) finished 31 votes behind eventual Sutton Medallist Ryan Griffen (273),  and ahead of third placed Will Minson (184).