#43 Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti - WALLA MACCA TIPPA - joining Tiwi Bombers

Now a premiership player. Congrats Tippa!

18 Likes

39 Likes

maybe you were not watching the game closely enough!

1 Like

17 Likes

Joe wasn’t spectacular but the sight of him waddling away from the centre and hitting Lloydy on the chest with a 40 m pass was awesome

3 Likes

The bravest act i have seen is Joe getting between Plugger in full flight and the ball in a pocket . He didn’t flinch.

2 Likes

There was a Jason Torney who played a few games for Richmond in the late 90’s - early 00’s.

2 Likes

The 12-hour trip to watch a former Bombers star win a premiership

Charlie Dunn is 11 and yet to see his beloved Essendon win a final. But on Saturday, he did get to see his favourite former player Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti win a grand final in Mildura.

On a day when a number of country leagues celebrated their season finales around the state, the former Bomber livewire helped Imperials, the Sunraysia league club he joined this season, rocket from wooden spooners in 2023 to premiers on a windy afternoon just 12 months later at Mildura Sporting Precinct Oval, in front of 8000 fans.

54aea78a42035b2bea5f75700d7fb7eaa23a6994.webp

Charlie Dunn, 11, and former Essendon player Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.

Charlie and his parents, Sarah and Leigh, made a 12-hour round trip from Cobden, near Warrnambool, to Mildura for the third time this year to watch McDonald-Tipungwuti’s Imperials beat Wentworth by three points, 6.11 (47) to 6.8 (44). For the grand final, Charlie even shaved “Tippa” into the back of his head.

“Being able to watch him [McDonald-Tipungwuti] play in the grand final, it’s pretty special,” said Sarah.

“Tippa has always been that player that has a very special place in his [son Charlie’s] heart. So yeah, it is a very special weekend for us.”

McDonald-Tipungwuti’s impact was evident on and off the field. On it, he delivered a crucial goal in the third quarter: having slipped, he bobbed back up with true craftsmanship to whack the ball on his boot and drive it home.

While he wasn’t the best former AFL player on the scoreboard – that honour went to former GWS and West Coast player Jarrod Brander, who kicked five goals for Wentworth – “Tippa” shone when the premiership was on the line.

In the final term, when Imperials were two goals down, McDonald-Tipungwuti was moved from the forward line on to the ball for the last 15 minutes. Imperials booted three goals to Wentworth’s one to clinch the flag.

‘Opposition clubs come to watch Tippa’

Malcolm Kalms was working flat chat behind the bar at the ground on grand final day, and had umpired the under 16s grand final earlier in the day. The new-look Imperials headlined by McDonald-Tipungwuti had drawn the community to their games this year.

87e4c639887853e8527fa94c55d1d8a804e6b4a5.webp

261d833c6c9bf5496f89a6a59200955017e26ce2.webp

11-year-old Charlie Dunn and former Essendon player Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.

Kalms also used to play for Wentworth, so he claimed “neutral” status on Saturday, just wanting a good game. But one thing he’d be happy about was the steady stream of people pouring in for a cold beverage, despite the wind and the cold.

“Our sales have been unreal. Like our Draft sales, due to the older crowd that come along to watch Tippa, we’ve already outsold what we did last year in Carlton Draught and that was before the senior game started,” Kalms said.

“He doesn’t get many touches but every time he gets near the ball, something happens.

“So, if you miss one second, you might miss an awesome tackle he lays [or] he grabs the ball and he ducks and weaves, then spins around and kicks one over his head.”

Not everyone was a fan of Imperials’ resurgence

Wentworth fan Dallas Kalms – Malcolm’s cousin – was hoping that Imperials would be “flogged”. But he admitted that McDonald-Tipungwuti’s addition to the club was hard not to like.

Imperials are by far the most successful club in Sunraysia league history

regularly featuring in the grand final and boasting AFL talent in their ranks, including Josh Hunt (Geelong), Matthew Croft (Footscray), Dale Weightman (Richmond) and Matthew Knights (Richmond) and Hannah Priest (St Kilda for netball).

Did Dallas like seeing “Imps” down the bottom of the ladder last year?

“Yes,” said a defiant Dallas.

“Because the Imps have been so successful for such a long period of time, I think everyone has a rivalry with Imps and they love seeing them down the bottom.

“I really don’t like them. They’re a really good club, very successful, but not my favourite team up here. I’ve only watched the games we played against them and Tippa has been quite good on them, but I have seen even like our juniors will actually go and find out Tippa and get autographs and photos, meet with him.

“He’s been very welcoming of the kids”.

This is illustrated by the first trip Charlie and his parents made to Mildura to watch McDonald-Tipungwuti play, in April. They had hoped for a photo at the most.

Instead, Charlie was welcomed by Imperials into the clubroom to meet his idol and run out with him. McDonald-Tipungwuti gave him his game-day jumper, along with his old training shorts and socks that he used to wear when he played for Essendon.

“We’ve met him a few times now and he’s just been wonderful with him [Charlie]. Very humble, kind, generous person. He was so thankful that we’d come up earlier in the year to initially meet him,” said Dunn.

“And last fortnight ago, we came up to watch the semi-final and of course, when Imperials won, he went into the clubrooms, he got to sing the song in the circle with Tippa. So, it’s been really, really beautiful experience.”

It was this kit that Charlie wore on Saturday, a good luck kit for the player who helped lift a club from the bottom of the bush league, to premiership glory.

30 Likes

Congrats Tippa you deserved one

11 Likes

Another Essendon player finding happiness and success as soon as he leaves the club.

1 Like

100 games for Tiges then another 70-odd for Adelaide.
Unusual situation of playing every game (including finals) then getting delisted.

11h ago11 hours ago

Silhouette football and child|1.5x1

There’s never been a professional AFL player from the remote NT community of Wadeye, but officials hope that will change.(ABC News: Matt Garrick)

It’s a footy mad northern Australian community that hasn’t ever produced a top tier AFL player — but there’s hopes that could soon change.

A group of AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) officials and former and current AFL and AFLW players recently made the trek out to the Aboriginal community of Wadeye.

Based about 400 kilometres south-west of Darwin, it’s one of the NT’s biggest remote communities, with a population of around 2,000 people.

Woman holds football while hugging and smiling with teenage girl |1.5x1

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s mother Jane McDonald and emerging Wadeye traditional owner Marita Perdjert.(ABC News: Matt Garrick)

Young shirtless boy with paint on face holds football with woman behind him |1.5x1

Rose and Bruce Ninnal after winning a free football outside Wadeye’s shop.(ABC News: Matt Garrick )

Wadeye is so remote that its unpaved access road is often cut off for months every year, during the Top End’s monsoon season.

But despite its remoteness, former players like former Essendon superstar and Tiwi Islander Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti have their sights set on Wadeye as a breeding ground for a future AFL great.

Man with dreadlocks stands in front of wall with people surrounding him and holds football|1.5x1

Anthony McDonald Tipungwuti visits Wadeye to inspire the community’s next generation of players. (ABC News: Matt Garrick )

“There’s a lot of fresh talent, and you know, hopefully we’ll get a couple of players that come out of Wadeye that will play AFL, that’d be great,” McDonald-Tipungwuti said.

“Hopefully we can get one or two players from Wadeye that can go down south and try something different, and hopefully get drafted.”

Boy wearing traditional face paint holds football while flexing biceps |1.5x1

Wadeye youngster Graham Melpi loves his AFL. (ABC News: Matt Garrick )

With the efforts led by another former Essendon footballer, Shane Radbone, the group has been working to pinpoint Wadeye talent and help players find opportunities in southern states.

“Hopefully [we’ll] create that pathway for a younger generation,” said McDonald-Tipungwuti.

“You would’ve seen lotta kids kicking around with a footy and everything, and so, there’s a bright future there for a few players, boys and girls.”

Man with dreadlocks folds arms with a row of girls standing either side |1.5x1

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, centre, says he hopes Wadeye’s local team will return to the field once again.(ABC News: Matt Garrick )

In 2024, Radbone and the Kardu Diminin Corporation assisted in facilitating up-and-coming Wadeye player Mathias Maloney to play some games with a regional South Australian football league.

“I just liked playing around, get a bit of experience,” Maloney said of the opportunity.

Young man in football guernsey leans over railing |1.5x1

Matthias Maloney was recently picked to compete in a regional South Australian football league.(ABC News: Matt Garrick )

The backs of two boys, with one wrapping his arm around the other, who is holding a football|1.5x1

While Wadeye does not have a community team in NT premier league the NTFL, it does have local teams that play against each other.(ABC News: Matt Garrick)

Plans to reignite Wadeye Magic team

As well as the long-term dream of seeing a Wadeye player kicking goals at the MCG, the AFLNT also has plans for the community that it hopes could be achievable in the foreseeable future.

There are talks underway to bring back a community team, Wadeye Magic, into NT premier league the NTFL — if not permanently, then at least for showpiece matches.

AFLNT Indigenous programs manager Cassidy Fitzclarence said it had been more than 10 years since Wadeye last fielded a proper team in the NTFL.

Man wearing football polo ■■■■ smiles |1.5x1

Cassidy Fitzclarence sees a bright future for football in Wadeye. (ABC News: Matt Garrick )

AFL guernseys hang on a fenceline |1.5x1

Wadeye also has women’s football teams.(ABC News: Matt Garrick )

“It’s a big logistical effort, and it’s very difficult to join a big, established competition like the NTFL, but there’s certainly opportunities for the Wadeye Magic to play against other teams, other communities, and get out of this region, which is really exciting,” he said.

"It provides a great sense of hope for people, a great sense of joy and pride to see their family members playing footy and coming together.

“All the families coming together in one team is really positive.”

Man with long hair and traditional paint on face holds football |1.5x1

Harold James Longmair wants to see the return of a top-grade NTFL team to his community. (ABC News: Matt Garrick )

When asked if the return of Wadeye Magic was a real prospect, McDonald-Tipungwuti said: “It’d be massive for the community … it’d be good to see Wadeye Magic [in 2025]”.

Mr Fitzclarence was among the cohort that travelled out to Wadeye recently for the community’s grand final carnival, and said he was impressed by the level of football.

“When people are in their home community and playing with their family, they show their best, they show their talent,” he said.

“It’s always very electric and very fast, and very exciting.”

The recent Wadeye men’s grand final between local teams the Dockers and the Suns was won in a nailbiter by the Dockers, who pipped their counterparts by three points at the final siren.

Football players line up during cultural ceremony before game |1.5x1

Players line up to take part in a cultural ceremony prior to the local Wadeye men’s grand final. (ABC News: Matt Garrick )

Football team photo|1.5x1

Wadeye team the Suns prior to the final. (ABC News: Matt Garrick)

30 Likes

Thanks for posting this, Mr Mullet, a great read. Talk about a remote community. !!

9 Likes

I agree. Thanks are due to drapersmullet for posting this article of interest. Really good to see AMT and his mum involved. I hope something comes of this, especially involving Essendon.

3 Likes

Have been to Wadeye a few years back and can confirm its remoteness.

Can confirm they are footy mad. I was part of crew running holiday events for the kids and morning footy training was an intense experience.

Great to see good things happening there.

9 Likes

I drove into Wadeye in 1982 for work! It was a tough drive being dirt all the way from the Daly River. I had taught some of the kids and had some family contacts. Unfortunately, it is like Papunya and a few other indigenous communities in the NT where governments forced traditional enemies into sharing space. Like those other communities it has never worked. To improve the so cial climate there is a need to implement the plan devised by the indigenous community there a number of years ago. The ABC sports commentator in Darwin has a very strong understanding of the issues. I will try to find it and post. Hopefully the work being undertaken by Anthony will have a positive impact

11 Likes

Just his presence there is a good start.

1 Like