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Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti signs with Imperial in the Sunraysia league

One of the AFL’s most popular players of the last decade will play Victorian country footy in 2024, signing for a club that battled through last season.

Imperial Football Netball Club has pulled off one of the biggest signings coups of the country footy off-season signing recently retired AFL forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.

Last year’s bottom placed team in the Sunraysia league has secured the former livewire Essendon forward after convincing the 133-game AFL player to join the club.

He now joins a host of ex-AFL players to come into the competition including Jarrod Brander (Wentworth), Sam Kerridge (Mildura), Derek Eggmolesse-Smith (Merbein) and Ben McGlynn (Wentworth).

“We are delighted with Anthony’s decision to join the club,” the club said in a statement.

“We are fortunate as a club to have great connections and after speaking with Anthony and his mother Jane, Tippa quickly confirmed that he loved the family atmosphere and strong culture of our club and they were the key attributed behind the decision.”

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will be playing in the Sunraysia league next year. Picture: Imperial Football Netball Club.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will be playing in the Sunraysia league next year. Picture: Imperial Football Netball Club.

McDonald-Tipungwuti has made the move to Mildura and will spend time there and in Darwin as he plays for the club.

The Essendon cult hero is one of many changes to the Imps in the off-season as the club looks to bounce back after a winless year in 2023.

The team only managed a draw against South Mildura.

But the club said there would be no expectations on McDonald-Tipungwuti to single-handedly lead the team back up the ladder.

Instead, the club is his home.

“The club holds no expectations of Anthony and welcome Jane and Anthony with open arms and look forward to providing them both a home to share their experiences both on and off the field,” the statement said.

“Tippa is extremely talented as we have seen and to have him in our playing group and for our junior players to look up to will have the club buzzing with excitement.”

More to come.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/mildura/anthony-mcdonaldtipungwuti-signs-with-imperial-in-the-sunraysia-league/news-story/9040a9a6db01001cf819e4016c429ae4