‘You’re kidding?’: Bombers star’s shock comeback news

Bombers cult hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has blown Kane Cornes away after a report he is making a comeback with a rival club.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. Pic: Michael Klein.

Essendon cult hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is reportedly considering a comeback with Fremantle.

The revelation headlines a huge series of trade news updates that have emerged on Tuesday.

Bombers legend Matthew Lloyd on Tuesday morning told AFL Trade Radio the small forward is considering moving to Western Australia to return to football — just four months after he announced his immediate retirement in the middle of the 2022 season.

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Lloyd said Essendon is hoping to have McDonald-Tipungwuti return to the club, but Fremantle is expected to win the battle for his signature.

“A bit of news, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was in the room despite retiring earlier in the year and he is contemplating a return back to football to play AFL next year,” Lloyd told AFL Trade Radio’s The Early Trade.

“Essendon are very keen for him to re-join Essendon, but leading the race to have Anthony next year is the Fremantle Dockers.

“Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is considering a move to Western Australia to play for Fremantle if he does decide he’s going to put the work in and play AFL football again.

“Both the Bombers would like him to play and Fremantle leading the race currently.

“I think for Anthony, his lifestyle and everything, he’s had a fair bit going on. I think it’s the environment he needs and if he feels it’s best to leave Victoria, well, I’d be comfortable with that.”

Tex Wanganeen and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. Photo by Michael Klein.

His retirement at the age of 29 shocked the football world in May — and the news of his comeback was just as shocking for footy pundit Kane Cornes, who responded to Lloyd’s report by saying: “You’re kidding?”

McDonald-Tipungwuti was the Bombers’ leading goalkicker in the Covid-interrupted 2020 season and kicked 153 goals across 126 games for the Bombers.

McDonald-Tipungwuti took leave in February for personal reasons before returning to the VFL.

He did not make an appearance for Essendon’s senior side this year.

First official deals drop

The first deal of the 2022 AFL Trade Period on Monday saw Bobby Hill leaving the Giants for Collingwood.

The clubs agreed to let Hill leave in exchange for a future second round draft pick.

Hill is one of many star players Collingwood is chasing with the club also linked to Tom Mitchell, Brayden Fiorini, Sam Hayes and Dan McStay.

More moves dropped on Monday afternoon with Tim Taranto joining Richmond on a long-term deal from the GWS Giants. The Giants will receive picks 12 and 19 in return.

Unrestricted Melbourne defender Jayden Hunt is officially going West to join the Eagles with the Demons set to receive pick 52 in return.

Earlier, Carlton on Monday announced star forward Harry McKay has agreed to a seven-year extension.

North Melbourne will fight Port Adelaide on Horne-Francis trade

The biggest story has been North Melbourne young gun Jason Horne-Francis’s bombshell request to move to Port Adelaide.

The Kangaroos on Monday updated their stance on the No. 1 draft pick’s request to leave the club after just 12 months.

North Melbourne list manager Brady Rawlings said on Monday the club would demand Port Adelaide’s top pick (No. 8) at this year’s draft and the club’s future first round pick if it was to agree to let Horne-Francis move. He said the club may even want more than that.

The trade action was running hot on Monday.

“It was disappointing when the request came through,” Rawlings said.

“We have invested a lot in this player, pick one last year. We knocked back a lot of currency to take him with pick one. We hoped he would serve out his career at North Melbourne.”

Leading footy journalist Damian Barrett reported on AFL Trade Radio on Monday afternoon Kangaroos officials believe the timing of the request is partly motivated by the uncertainty surrounding coach Alastair Clarkson’s future.

There is plenty more drama playing out.

‘Ludicrous’ rumour shut down by Demons

Melbourne has rejected reports Kysaiah Pickett wants to leave the club and return to South Australia.

His name was tossed up in trade speculation last week with former Crows star Josh Jenkins pouring fuel on the fire by suggesting Port Adelaide could “have a go” at getting Pickett during the 2022 Trade Period or the 2023 Trade Period.

Melbourne list boss Tim Lamb responded on Monday, saying: “Any talk about Kozzie leaving is absolutely ludicrous. We love Kozzie, Kozzie loves us, there’s been no discussion about that (trade).”

Here are all the biggest trade dramas playing out

— Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell's potential move to Collingwood remains in limbo. Hawthorn list boss Mark McKenzie said on Monday: “Tom is a contracted player at this point in time and that is where it sits at this time. There has been some interest from Collingwood”.

— Fremantle has dug its heels in further about refusing to let Rory Lobb leave the club. The ruckman’s trade request was rejected by Fremantle having reportedly asked for a trade to the Western Bulldogs.

Fremantle recruitment boss David Walls said on AFL Trade Radio: “We’ve got every intention of keeping Rory… our position hasn’t changed. He’s contracted, guys that are 207cms, kick two goals a game and go into the ruck are that rare. We’ve got a young tall forward line so he’s crucial to us. I don’t see a way in which we’re trading Rory.”

— Suns star Izak Rankine’s move to the Crows took another step forward with Channel 7’s Theo Doropoulos reporting Gold Coast list boss Craig Cameron met with Adelaide recruitment boss Justin Reid surrounding a trade which would see the Crows trade the No. 5 overall draft pick for the talented forward.

— Gold Coast star Jack Bowes is being heavily chased by a number of Victorian clubs. The former top-10 draft pick, who is contracted for two more seasons, is looking for a new club after being given permission by the Suns to explore his options elsewhere. The Suns have put Bowes and the club’s No. 7 draft pick in the shopping window as part of the team’s salary cap space dump. Geelong is reported to be the front-runner, while Hawthorn, Essendon and St Kilda have previously been linked. Those teams would be required to offer a draft pick in exchange for taking on the reported $1.6 million left on Bowes’ contract in exchange for the prized No. 7 pick.

— Giants recruitment manager Adrian Caruso said a deal with Richmond for Tim Taranto would hopefully be concluded on Monday. According to reports, the Tigers will trade its No. 12 and No. 19 draft picks to sign Taranto. “We’ve had some fruitful discussions with the Tigers and that’s one that will hopefully get done today,” Caruso said.

— Collingwood star Brodie Grundy is just days away from joining Melbourne, according to reports. The Collingwood star is at the centre of the trade merry-go-round which also involves Demon ruckman Luke Jackson and Brisbane star Dan McStay.

Grundy was this week reported to have been unhappy about Collingwood’s request for him to look for a new club. Grundy still has five years remaining on a monster $7 million deal which he put pen to paper to in 2020.

Widespread reports claim Collingwood will be forced to pay a significant percentage of Grundy’s wages across the course of the deal.

Chris Fagan with Daniel McStay. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Jackson, meanwhile, is expected to move to the Dockers this trade period, despite the Demons reportedly demanding two first round selections to let him leave. Fremantle has reportedly prepared a monster, long term contract offer.

With those dominoes set to fall, Collingwood is set to pick up Brisbane Lions star McStay, who officially told the club last week he wants to leave.

McStay, 27, has been linked for several months with a move to the Magpies, who have reportedly offered him a five-year deal worth $650,000 per season.

— Sharp shooter Jack Gunston has officially told Hawthorn he expects to move to Brisbane through free agency. According to reports, Hawthorn had offered Gunston a two-year extension, but he rejected it in order to link up with Brisbane.

— Josh Dunkley’s move to the Lions is far from finished. Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge on Wednesday night said the Lions will have to “pony up” in any trade deal. Dunkley has officially requested to be traded to the Lions. The Bulldogs have previously demanded two first-round draft picks in exchange for letting Dunkley walk out the door. The Lions will reportedly need two first round picks to snap up talents Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher at the 2022 national draft — and do not appear to have the ammunition required to satisfy the Bulldogs as things stand.