Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains says an announcement on Tom Liberatore’s future could come within weeks.
The out of contract gun on-baller is one of the most in-form players in the competition, but currently remains unsigned beyond this year.
Fresh off the back of captain Marcus Bontempelli re-committing to the club this week, Bains says they were “hopeful” of finalising a new deal for Liberatore in the coming weeks.
“(List manager) Sam Power was in constant discussions and close negotiations with (Tom Liberatore’s) management group,” he said on Sportsday.
“We are hopeful that in the next few weeks that it gets done, we’re obviously keen for Tom to remain at the club.
“He’s a Bulldog through and through and given how well he started the season, it would be great to get that one locked away too.”
While Liberatore is starring for the Dogs at the moment, vice-captain Mitch Wallis finds himself playing for Footscray in the VFL after only featuring in the senior side twice in 2021.
The 28-year-old is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and Bains said while Wallis would be frustrated with his current predicament, the club “couldn’t see him playing anywhere else”.
“Mitch (Wallis) is such a proud person and a terrific player, he lead our goal kicking last year and stood up in difficult times,” he said.
“His attitude and application as vice-captain around the club has been first rate and he’s doing everything he possibly can (to earn a recall).
“Clearly it’s frustrating that he can’t get back in the senior team at the moment, but I don’t think there has been any drop off in attitude and application on and off the field.
“He wants to be playing senior footy right now. As to what it looks like beyond this year, we’re obviously keen for Mitch to be at the club longer term, similarly to Tom he’s a Bulldog through and through (given) his family history at the footy club and we couldn’t see him playing anywhere else.”