FOOTSCRAY fans unable to get to Western Bulldogs matches may do well to get down to a local Western Region Football League game on a Saturday afternoon, particularly a West Footscray match.

Bulldogs icon and current Roosters coach Tony Liberatore has been doing the hard yards with his charges on and off the field – running through the middle and crumbing packs in true Bulldogs fashion.

“I have played a couple of games,” he said. “I am enjoying it. It’s lots of fun trying to teach the boys a bit more out on the ground.”

The 279-game AFL veteran in his first year coaching the Roosters has had a rough start to the season with big losses to powerhouses, Albion and Port Melbourne Colts with a round three victory against Glen Orden a positive.

On Saturday the Roosters were dealt another heavy blow when the winless and undermanned Saints side thumped them by 100 points.

The match was an interesting affair for footy fans with Liberatore facing off against former Bulldogs’ team-mate and St Albans coach Steve Kolyniuk.

“Big game, no doubt about that,” Liberatore said. “I know Steve Kolyniuk quite well and he was nice enough to ring me up earlier in the year and talk to me about a few teams. He is a great guy and we are long-time friends from the Bulldogs days.”

Liberatore acknowledged the Saints’ injury woes but did not write their season off.

“They are not at full strength yet. I think they are a still an opportunity to make the top five. Injuries play a big part in football.”