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

Football Discussion Dustin Fletcher Hangar
1107

Carbs are his problem in my opinion. The long injury layoff last year resulted in the weight gain and its often difficult with his slower metabolic rate to shed that weight which would allow him to train at the optimum level.

My unqualified but anecdotal assessment is that a keto diet could greatly benefit him for a month to 6 weeks, just to strip that excess weight which would enable him to move better and train harder, once those pounds are shed then the carbs could slowly be introduced… Just my 2 cents.

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1108

Most players try to shed weight once they hit 30. Try to be as streamline as possible.

IMO, it would take a miracle for Walla to get into fighting shape, and play another 2-3 years. I just don’t see it happening.

He is going tp open himself up to a bunch of injuries.

Stringer is the perfect example of this.

1109

Essendon GM of footy Josh Mahoney says the Bombers need to see a commitment from Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti to get back to AFL level if they are to award him a new contract beyond 2022.

McDonald-Tipungwuti, 28, hasn’t played a senior game for the club since Round 21 last year and took a leave of absence from the club in February.

The small forward returned to the fold earlier this year and has been working on getting his fitness back to AFL levels.

However, despite early plans to have McDonald-Tipungwuti back in the first half of the year, Mahoney revealed those had hit a snag.

“He’s making progress, but he was interrupted by a two-week break with COVID which probably pushed it back a little bit,” Mahoney said on Sportsday .

“He just wasn’t able to do the training that we need him to do, he’s making some progress but he’s still a bit away from the requirements to be able to perform at AFL level.

“We’ll keep supporting him in that and hopefully we get there.”

McDonald-Tipungwuti’s best return came last year, kicking 34 goals at an average of 1.7 per game to be amongst the elite small forwards of the competition.

However, just one year on and coming out of contract at the end of 2022, Mahoney suggested potentially serious conversations are on the table with the Bombers star to work out what is “the best thing for him to do”.

“At some stage, we will (make that decision on a new contract),” Mahoney stated.

“He is out of contract, one of a number of players, and we’ve got to work with ‘Walla’ (McDonald-Tipungwuti) on what is the best thing for him to do… as we said before, we’ll work hard with him to try and get him back to AFL level, he’s now missed a fair chunk of time, the back half of last year and all of this year.

“So he hasn’t played footy for a long period of time, we’ve got to know that he’s committed to getting back and if he is, then we’ll support him in doing that.”

After missing Round 6 of the VFL, McDonald-Tipungwuti played in Round 7 on Sunday to record eight disposals and a goal against Box Hill.

1110

Very interesting language in that.

1111

Mahoney is being ballsy by doing that to a depressed small fwd who is our barometer

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1112

He’s just being honest. Don’t make something out of nothing.

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1113

Needs the hard truths anyway clearly

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1114

If he’s not commited I hope he retires. The thought of another club taking a chance on him makes me ill

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1115

Can you put someone on the LTI for being overweight?

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1116

its fair enough language too. at some stage you have to take off the kid gloves and be realistic. by all means treat him with respect and provide the right environment, but the balls in Walla’s court now to get himself physically fit. It’s not looking good (but i never thought it was anywhere near realistic that he returns in the first half of the year?

1117

Let him make his decision whenever he is ready.
I’d love to see him continue for us at VFL even after he has retired.
We should be giving him an opportunity or pathway into life after football.
He could end up in a development role or an assistant coach.
Stories like Tippa’s shouldn’t just fade away as when his career ends.
His story is the most inspirational story anywhere in the AFL in the last ten years. His path into AFL was tougher than anyones.

I’d love to see him stay around the club in some capacity. And hopefully we can support him post football.

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1118

Yep totally agree with that,love Tippa but at the end of the day he is supposed to be a professional athlete and to me he isn’t even trying because it doesn’t take that long to get you Fitness back

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1119

I think it’s a certainty that we would want him at the club post-football. It more depends on what he would want to do.

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1120

Franklin looked heavy and finished over the last few years. He lost weight and is killing it this year.

Franklin is 35.

We shouldnt have to contemplate writing off a champion at 28.

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1121

It’s all up to him, really.

1122

The fact we dont know if he is committed to get back at this stage, after the last 12 months, says it all unfortunately.

Might even be a mid season call. Get the list spot and he can play out the year in the vfl if likes. He did say he enjoys playing in the vfl.

1123

Dreamtime ain’t happening.

Here’s hoping Tex is fit and ready to go or we won’t have any indigenous representation. Tigers will prob have 6.

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1124

I hope im wrong but I could just see a west coast or brisbane pick him up and turn him around.

1125

Unless he gets injured, Tex will play Dreamtime.

Bet your house on it.

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1126

Fold and chunk?