Western Bulldogs rising AFL star Tom Liberatore was reportedly found unconscious by police early on Sunday morning in Melbourne.

The AFL website and Fox Sports News say Liberatore, 20, who has played 33 AFL games since making his debut last season, is believed to have been found with a small amount of illicit substances.

He was allegedly placed in a diversion program by police.

A police spokesman said officers had attended outside a King Street nightclub at 3.30am (AEST) on Sunday and found a 20-year-old man lying on a footpath, allegedly dropping in and out of consciousness.

“The man from Essendon North regained consciousness and was taken home by a family member,” the spokesman told AAP.

The spokesman confirmed the man was later interviewed by police.

“He was interviewed for alleged drug offences and placed on a drug diversion program,” he said.

No charges will therefore be laid over the incident.

Liberatore is the son of Bulldogs great Tony Liberatore, who won the 1990 Brownlow Medal.

Drafted under the father-son rule, he won the Chris Grant Medal as the Dogs’ best first-year player last year.

This season, he has played 17 of a possible 18 games and picked up 24 touches in Saturday’s loss to North Melbourne.

The Bulldogs were reportedly aware of the incident but were not returning calls on Monday.