Western Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore is on track to becoming just the second AFL player to reach more than 200 clearances in a single season.
In his last three games, the 29-year-old has registered 10, 13 and 12 clearances respectively, boosting his overall season tally to 84 from nine rounds.
Current St Kilda coach Brett Ratten holds the overall record, notching up 265 as a Carlton player during the 1999 season.
“I always rise to the challenge,” Liberatore joked on 3AW Sportsday on Tuesday evening.
Having missed a number of games to injury throughout his 11-season playing career, Liberatore said being able to string together a run of games has done wonders for his recent on-field impact.
“I think it’s more my body has had another year to adjust after surgery – I was able to do a bit more of a pre-season (this year),” he said.
“I think being able to have a longer pre-season certainly helps to be able to get a bit more stability.
“Having played the last 15 or 16 games in a row – that holds you in good stead. I think in 2019 I didn’t play the last eight or nine games.
“Having momentum heading into a pre-season is probably the main reason I guess.”
Liberatore highlighted his nature to ‘do’ rather than ‘think’ and play on instinct as another contributing factor.
“I’m probably more on the ‘do’ side of things – it’s always been part of my game ever since I was a kid,” Liberatore said.
“More so as I’ve played for longer at the highest level, it’s probably more thinking (and adjusting) each week to certain things that the opposition throws at you.
“The foundation of it though is that you play on instinct and then go from there.”
Liberatore also praised fellow midfielders Marcus Bontempelli and Jack Macrae for their efforts, crediting them for some of his own results.
“I don’t want to pump myself up too much, because ‘Bonti’ and ‘Jacko’ – if anything they probably do both (the outside and inside work),” Liberatore said.
“I’m just lucky that they can do the outside work as I find myself getting a bit older now.
“I’m pretty grateful to have them on the outside putting the polish on.”