Western Bulldogs great Tony Liberatore admitted to assaulting an election worker

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, ordering him to be of good behavior for three months and pay $1,000 to the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

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The Western Bulldogs have announced a new contract extension with key striker Aaron Naughton for eight years, locking him in at the Kennel until the end of the 2032 season. The club announced the major retention signing on Wednesday night, with the West Australian the first of several key signings the Dogs will make over the next 12 months.

Naughton said his decision was a “special moment” and he looked forward to the future in blue, white and red.

“This is a special moment for me to sign, especially for my family,” Naughton said.

“Signing a long-term contract and staying here, especially with my team-mates, I want them to know that I’m in the same boat as them. Playing alongside these guys over the coming years is really exciting. “When you get drafted by this club and they make you feel welcome, not just me but the whole Washington family, it’s amazing. You build strong bonds with all your teammates and I have some of my closest friends here.

“I am optimistic about this group and what we can achieve in the coming years. It’s hard work and I know this team is willing to put in the effort every day.

Naughton has played 123 games for the Bulldogs since making his debut in 2018, scoring a total of 191 goals to lead the club in scoring over the past two seasons.

The 23-year-old is the Dogs’ first major retention move ahead of a crucial year for the club’s list management team, as Tim English, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Bailey Smith, among others others, terminate their contracts in 2024. Bulldogs team manager Sam Power expressed his delight at Naughton’s decision