Beloved Essendon goalsneak Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will be wearing red and black again in 2023.
The Bombers confirmed on Thursday that the 29-year old, who retired midway through 2022 after taking personal leave from the club, has signed a one-year contract to return to the club under new senior coach Brad Scott.
McDonald-Tipungwuti last played for the Bombers in Round 21, 2021, while he won the club’s goalkicking award in 2020.
“We are thrilled that Anthony has decided to come back to the Bombers,” Essendon general manager of football Josh Mahoney said in a statement.
“Anthony took time away from the club in 2022 to focus on life outside of footy. We’re comfortable he has taken the time he needs to bring a renewed enthusiasm to return to the AFL and play for Essendon.
He is a committed Essendon person who loves playing football and our conversations with Anthony recently led us to believe there was a realistic chance he would come back to Essendon.
“Once we knew he was keen to return we worked with the AFL on the right pathway back to the club including approval from a list management perspective.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
“We will continue to support him on and off the field and assist in his quest to return to football. We acknowledge a lot of hard work is ahead but feel confident he can achieve his football ambitions and goals at the club he loves.
“He is loved by players, coaches, staff and fans and we look forward to him returning to Essendon.”
Originally selected in the 2015 rookie draft, McDonald-Tipungwuti made his Bombers debut in Round 1 of 2016, with the club reeling from the supplements scandal which saw a swathe of players suspended for the entire season.
He quickly became a fan favourite as a running half-back, before switching to the forward line in 2017, where he enjoyed his most fruitful period as a player.
The goalsneak bagged 34 majors in 2017, an equal career-high alongside 2021, while he managed 26 in 2018 and 32 in 2019. He also notably finished in the top-10 in the club’s best and fairest from 2016 to 2021, and as high as fifth in 2018.
His absence from Round 22, 2021 for personal reasons also broke a streak of 126 consecutive games, a Bombers record in the AFL era.
Perhaps his finest moment came in the dying seconds of the Bombers’ clash with North Melbourne in Round 17 of 2019, when he kicked a magnificent goal from the forward pocket to clinch a one-point win at the last gasp.
McDonald-Tipungwuti’s popularity extends beyond the Bombers, with Australian band Pickett Palace releasing a song about him in 2019.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
As there no article relating to discussion- thought this was the closest to relevant... Lions picking up former Bomber McKenna i feel has potential to be a very handy pick up.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Oh please no lol
WCE
Roar Rookie
So why bother retiring in the first place
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Thank goodness Coopers never sold to Lion Nathan back in the early 2010’s. I told them my displeasure via email, it must have worked :stoked:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
If I'm successful in my case I'll go. I'll meet you over there. 5 days of AFL footy in one city; Sheesh. We can eat KG Whiting, pie floaters, real pasties, Greek-made Yiros, Balfour's Frogs, Berliner Buns, Cooper's Ale.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
AFL having 9 games played in SA in 23’ on one given round. 5-6 day’s of pub crawl & barbecue’s :stoked:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Or not. A bit fragile today or you just don’t read anything? Name-calling…Really?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
No answer? You have a very poor team right now.
Ditto
Roar Rookie
What's wrong with you Don? There is plenty of up and coming talent in the Adelaide line up. You come across like a mean spirited old rhymes with hunt, whose only input is to slag off other teams
The Iron Dingo
Roar Rookie
More of your usual disconnected rubbish - you start off making one poorly thought out point and then defend it by moving the goal posts.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Then what has happened to the development of the kids? None are any good.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Except Rankine is only one. Where is your developed Pearce, Cox, Chapman, Young, Ryan, Walker, O'Driscoll, Brayshaw, Darcy, Serong, Schultz, Switkowski, Walters, Fyfe, Taberner, Amiss? Where is your next gen pushing for a spot? Your Erasmus, Johnson, Treacy, Henry, Worner...? Develop them. Pick them. Play them. You can do it.
The Iron Dingo
Roar Rookie
So pretty much the same story as Rankine I guess...
Ditto
Roar Rookie
That's BS Don, Crows currently only have two players recruited from other clubs. Jordan Dawson ( product of Sturt SANFL) and Izak Rankine (product of West Adelaide SANFL)
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I do make exceptions, she is Pisces, that's why she fishtails when she walks!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
EastFreo junior. He was developed here. More clubs should reclaim those they developed. Melbourne just went for the ride. Watch Jackson improve now that he's being coached again.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
She’s a blonde :shocked:
The Iron Dingo
Roar Rookie
Well done on the Luke Jackson trade by the way
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
My favourite Victorian Spirit is Livinia Nixon.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Slow cooker...