TOM LIBERATORE was "a shining light" in the Western Bulldogs' 65-point demolition of Fremantle at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, coach Luke Beveridge said.
After missing the entire 2015 season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament suffered in last year's NAB Challenge, Liberatore's 25-disposal performance against the Dockers was a major positive on a day jam-packed with them.
The 2014 best and fairest winner did not waste any time familiarising himself with top-level football again, drilling a goal on his non-preferred right foot in the opening five minutes of the match.
The popular Bulldog was mobbed by delighted teammates, who knew the significance of that moment.
Click here for Luke Beveridge's full media conference
"I thought Libba was very, very good," Beveridge said after the game.
"It'll be progress, progress, progress with him.
"It does take you a little while when you've been out of the game for that long.
"We saw some good signs in the NAB Challenge and today he took a big step. His work in close and his awareness of what's around him and being able to connect when we need him to, he was a shining light in that regard today."
Beveridge was much more understated when describing his team's impressive win, although he did acknowledge his players' strong defensive efforts.
Beveridge's coaching counterpart Ross Lyon went one step further, saying the Bulldogs were up for "a street fight" whereas his players were out for "a Sunday stroll".
Beveridge came up with a unique Doctor Who analogy to describe what makes his side tick.
"No matter what label is put on us, we need to be good in the phone box (inside the contest) and we need to be good in the tardis (outside the contest)," Beveridge said.
"We were good in both today."
The Bulldogs will come up against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night before meeting Hawthorn, Carlton, the Brisbane Lions, North Melbourne and Adelaide at the same venue.
They will face three six-day breaks over that seven-game stretch, which Beveridge said presented some challenges for player-management.
"I'll always be that cliché coach – we need to win next week," Beveridge said.
"It'll be nice to get that momentum and keep it going but we only focus on the next one.
"We got through pretty well unscathed today. We're on a six-day break now and hopefully all the boys come up and we'll have a good squad to pick from for the Saints game."
Beveridge added that Tom Campbell (ankle), who became the club's No.1 ruck option in the NAB Challenge, would come into the selection equation for the Saints.
