Tony Liberatore says his dream of coaching at AFL level is still very much alive and his decision to leave the big-time is only temporary.

"I'd been an assistant-coach (at Hawthorn and Carlton) for four years. I like coaching my own group," he says. "It's particularly fulfilling and
satisfying."

Liberatore, 42, coached Sunbury for the first time yesterday in the Ballarat League's 2008 season opener.

Despite having filled-in occasionally during the practice matches, Liberatore says he's strictly a non-playing coach and wants to use the experience as part of his journey back into the AFL.

"I think I can (coach an AFL club)," he says. "I'm good enough to do that. I understand how cut throat the business is. But I'm comfortable with all that. I don't get overawed by anything. It's why I was so honest about what I reckon happened at Carlton (late last year). I stand by what I said. And I'm comfortable with it all."

Rather than re-igniting the tanking debate, Liberatore was talking up his own attributes as a future League coach.

"The game is evolving all the time and I understand the caper," he said.

"I'm trying to teach the boys here and help them get the best out of themselves.

"Our sessions are intense. All I have asked for is total honesty from the group."

Two weeks ago the ex-Brownlow Medallist was forced to play again after one of the local players was married and several others in the team were part of
the bridal party.

Liberatore says country football will always be a step back from the professional game and that's part of its charm. But the sheer passion and fun of the game remains.

"We lost 12 players from last year's Grand Final side. Many went off chasing the extra dollars. But that's life. You can only deal with those that are here and I'm pleased with what I see right now."

"We trained like a VFL side pre-season and it was great to finally get the year started (yesterday against Melton). We have got some terrific youngsters." Liberatore says there is a comfort zone in being an assistant-coach and he prefers his football on the knife edge, just as he played it. "As a player I didn't want five year contracts or anything like that. It was year to year depending purely on my form. "As a coach, until you're in the hot seat yourself, in the pressure cooker and making the ultimate decisions, it's just not the same. Assistants don't make the final decision." Liberatore said Fremantle's coach Mark Harvey took years to finally decide that he wanted a No.1 job "John Longmire (in Sydney) is another who now is wanting to have that responsibility. It takes time in your mind to decide." Liberatore said the sheer size of the Sunbury ground is a massive advantage and with his team's strong fitness base, he is expecting his players to run out games stronger than most.

He has high hopes for several also new to the club including versatile pair Shaun Neeson and Tim Little.

Zane Williams and Daniel Burnett, returning from the Western Jets, are also quality players as are the Powell brothers, .Jake and Keegan

Sunbury's captain and assistant-coach is Ben Jordan, a former Henderson Medallist, Liberatore describing him as a real leader in the group and "someone everyone looks up to."

With other frontliners like the versatile Brett Chambers and ruckmen/key forwards Pat Carriss and Ash Fleming, Liberatore says Sunbury has the depth to make another Grand Final and this time win it.

"We've had a terrific record since entering the Ballarat League 10 or 11 years back and now the season has started there is a real sense of purpose. Training numbers have been good and when they can't train they ring me. That's what I want, absolute honesty."

In addition to his weekend coaching duties, Liberatore is continuing to see two AFL matches most weekends, as well as keeping a keen eye on his kids, Chris and
Tom who play at St Bernards and St Kevins respectively and daughter Meg with all her sporting interests, too.

He says 15-year-old Tom "towers over me".

"He's already 5 ft 10 in, so I can't give him too much cheek. He's a left footer and good in close. (it) must run in the family..."

By Ken Piesse

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