Concerns for Bulldogs as Liberatore collapses again

The midfielder had to be helped off after collapsing in distress during the last term of Sunday's upset loss to Hawthorn.

It was Liberatore's first game after he collapsed late in the round-six loss to Essendon, prompting a battery of medical tests.

There were unconfirmed reports during Sunday's game that Liberatore might have been kicked in the head accidentally and that was why he needed help from the trainers.

But post-match, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was unsure what had happened.

"I actually saw him stumble in the middle of the ground and that's concerning," Beveridge said.

"For it to happen again ... it's a bigger concern than just a one-game issue."

Beveridge added the Bulldogs would be conservative with Liberatore, with all decisions over his immediate future left to medicos.

Liberatore also could be in match review trouble for a third-quarter tackle on Will Day.

A free kick was paid to Day, whose head hit the ground in the tackle.

Liberatore, 31, is the son of Bulldogs Brownlow Medallist Tony Liberatore and has played 222 games since his 2011 debut.

Australian Associated Press