AFL Bulldogs' Liberatore has ankle surgery

The Western Bulldogs are upbeat injured midfielders Tom Liberatore and Jack Macrae won't miss the rest of the AFL season.

Western Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore has undergone ankle surgery but the AFL club is optimistic his season is not over.

Liberatore hurt his ankle during the Bulldogs' 25-point loss to Geelong on Friday night, with scans revealing ligament damage.

Western Bulldogs football manager Graham Lowe says Liberatore and Jack Macrae, who tweaked his hamstring in round 19, could return before the end of the season.