 Liddell played his early football at Mentone Grammar and with the Southern Stingrays.After being recruited with pick 30 in the 1994 AFL Draft, Liddell was used initially by Collingwood as a forward but developed into a half back flanker.He kicked two goals and had 21 disposals in a win over St Kilda at the MCG in his first season but in four years at the club was in and out of the seniors.