RETIRED Western Bulldog Tom Williams has wasted no time in his new venture as an AFL player agent, acquiring former teammate Tom Liberatore as a client.
Williams, who retired last year after a horrendous run with injury in his 10-year career at the Bulldogs, recently became an accredited player agent.
He has started working for Podium Sports consultancy group, with player agent Rick Olarenshaw a director of the company.
Podium focuses predominantly on financial services, with Williams splitting his time between sport and finance in his role.
The 28-year-old said his long-held interest in the business of sport had pushed him in the direction of player management, as well as a chat with former coach Rodney Eade.
"When I was thinking about retiring I spoke to a few people including 'Rocket' and I said I wouldn't mind getting into the business side of sport but I didn't really know where to start," Williams told AFL.com.au.
"But he asked if I had thought about management, because you get to see how other clubs operate, the ins and outs of what players go through, contracts, and you have to identify your own talent at a young age."
In the latter part of his career as he battled injuries, Williams spent some time involved with the Bulldogs' recruiting department. The 85-gamer said it had given him an insight into the talent pathway and projecting how players will fare at AFL level.
"With that side of it, I just wanted to know if I had an eye for it or if I completely didn't," Williams said.
"I wanted to see for myself what was involved in the [scouting] process."
Williams said he was surprised that Liberatore was set to come on board with Podium, after the midfielder had been previously managed by McDonald Sports.
"'Libba' and I had a really good relationship when we were playing and he suggested that he wanted to come with me and he liked what we were doing and the plan we had for our players," said Williams, who was managed by Liam Pickering through his career.
"I didn't want him to come over just because we were mates - that's not the reason. It's a professional relationship."
Liberatore agreed to a three-year contract with the Dogs in 2013, which tied him to the club until the end of the 2016 season.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a swift rise as one of the competition's most damaging midfielders, playing every game in the past two years. He won the Bulldogs' best and fairest last year and was named in the club's leadership group for 2015.
That came after he was suspended by the Bulldogs for the final month of the 2012 season, after he was found in possession of an illicit substance after a night out.
