Imperial one game away from 20th premiership in Sunraysia league

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti didn’t win a final while he was at Essendon but he’s already achieved the feat elsewhere, helping his club to the Sunraysia grand final.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti looks to apply a tackle. Picture: Rita Morello.

While Essendon has struggled for the past 20 years to win an AFL final, it hasn’t taken long for former Bomber livewire Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti to win one for his new club Imperials in the Sunraysia league.

And now the team is one game away from completing a dream year.

The Sunraysia league’s most successful team, with 19 premierships, will take on either Irymple or Wentworth next week in the grand final after beating the Swallows last week by 12 points.

But 12 months ago the club was at the opposite end of the table, finishing last after 15 losses and one draw.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti runs out with his Imperial teammates. Picture: Rita Morello.

Imperial president Dale Stafford and his team went to work in the off-season, aiming to bring the club back to the top.

The recruitment of Aaron Laskey and Ryley Buntain from Queensland was followed by the signing of Bomber fan favourite Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.

The success of those signings, combined with the return from injury of Matthew Mazzini and Ben Galbraith has seen the team rocket up the ladder.

Imperials has only lost one game and beat last year’s premiers comfortably in the semi final.

Stafford conceded the success this year had surprised them but the team was embracing it.

“We thought we had a squad which could compete with the top end,” he said.

“By no means we thought we’d get through, dropping one game, and being in the position we are now.

“We had a three year plan but it’s come 12 months earlier than expected.”

A major part of the success has been McDonald-Tipungwuti who has kicked 31 goals in 14 games.

Stafford said the former Essendon forward had been influential on and off the field.

“He’s fitted in like he’s been at the club for 20 years,” he said.

“What he does on the field is outstanding but it’s what he does off the field is even better.

“We can’t speak highly enough.”

The Imperials president added he could have kicked more goals if he wasn’t so unselfish.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has a shot on goal. Picture: Rita Morello.

“I’d hate to think what his goal assists are,” Stafford said.

“If he’s kicked 31 he would have three or four times that in goal assists.

“He’s incredibly unselfish, sometimes too unselfish.

“That’s just the type of person he is.

“He’s worked beautifully with Jayden Fox, they’ve just gelled.”

Fox is the leading goalkicker for Imperial with 56 goals this year.

Now the goal is to claim the 20th premiership, which would be the first time any club in the Sunraysia league has won that many premierships.

“They (Imperials) are a pretty galvanised group,” Stafford said.

“As tight as you can get.

“Now they have got themselves in the position, they know what we want.

“We want that premiership cup back where it belongs, we think that belongs in our club rooms.”

There is another reason why the club wants to win again.

The team was on track to win in 2020 before Covid struck.

“2020 was one that got away from us with Covid,” Stafford said.

“We were clearly the best side in the competition and couldn’t finish the year.

“There are eight to 10 players in the side this year that wants success together.

“It’s been eating away at them for three to four years and they want redemption for that one.”

Irymple takes on Wentworth on Saturday in the preliminary final with the winner taking on Imperials in the grand final to be held next weekend.

Originally published as Imperial one game away from 20th premiership in Sunraysia league