Western Bulldogs free agent Bailey Williams signs new contract

Western Bulldogs winger Bailey Williams has re-committed to Kennel for a further four seasons, extending his service with the blue, white and red until the end of 2027.

The 25-year-old will now extend his Bulldog career to 12 years, having first arrived at Whitten Oval in the 2015 national competition.

Williams would play six games in his first year with the club as the Bulldogs ended their premiership drought, and he would double that the following season when he wanted playing a role under senior coach Luke Beveridge.

By 2020, Williams would be a fixture in the Dogs’ senior team, playing at 18 that year before reaching the finals a season later.

From 2021 to 2023, Williams will play at least 22 games per season as a utility option who can contribute on all three lines of the infield. This season, Williams could have exercised his rights on the open market as a free agent, but has instead committed himself to the Dogs’ cause under Beveridge in four more years.

“In the end it was a pretty easy decision for me,” Williams said in a club statement.

“I have made many friendships since arriving here eight years ago and I have loved my time at the Bulldogs so far.

“I still feel like there are exciting times ahead and we are all hungry for further success after a disappointing end to the season.”

“It’s a very tight group and we’re all looking forward to getting into pre-season over the coming weeks.”

Williams played a total of 127 games for the Dogs during his eight seasons in the AFL, including six grand finals appearances.

His new contract follows the recent retention of compatriot Caleb Poulter, who this week signed a two-year extension with the Bulldogs after joining them in May in the mid-season draft. FIND OUT MORE

Western Bulldogs great Tony Liberatore has admitted assaulting an election worker ahead of the 2022 Victorian election after she told him it was too late to vote.

Liberatore, who played 283 games in a 16-year AFL career, appeared remotely at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

He was brought to court via video link from his car, with his lawyer explaining that Liberatore had been discharged from hospital hours earlier following surgery on a broken ankle.

The court heard that the police prosecutor and defense had agreed that the case was suitable for diversion, which allows first-time or minor offenders to avoid a criminal conviction.

The 57-year-old grandfather admitted to twice shoving a pre-election employee just after 6 p.m. on November 25, 2022. According to the offense summary, he went to the Essendon booth to vote early but was told he had missed the five-minute deadline and would have to return another day.

The court heard the election officer allowed him to vote to “de-escalate” the situation, but informed Liberatore that she would call the police.

During an interview, Liberatore told police that he “stepped over the woman.”

“I was standing in line and she crushed it with her voice and said no,” he said.

The court said the victim was not injured and agreed to put Liberatore on the diversion list. But ten months later, Liberatore’s lawyer said his client’s view “is simply that this was an unfortunate situation and it was unnecessary.”

He told the court the offense was “irrelevant” and his client had no criminal record.

Liberatore found “the greatest joy” in soccer, he said, and had a long career as a player, coach and defender.

Judge Robert Kumar agreed to place the Bulldogs life member on diversion,