Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti leaves Imperial to join Merbein
Former Essendon cult-hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has made the big leap into coaching after shocking his local footy club and switching to a cross-town rival.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will stay in the Sunraysia league next year after signing with Merbein as a playing coach.
The Magpies have announced the former Essendon livewire will join the club, with the aim of moving the team up the ladder.
Last season Merbein lost every game, to finish bottom, and have only won five games in two seasons.
The ex-AFL player joins former SANFL players Scott Bedford and Nigel Lockyer Jr as new recruits.
“We haven’t had a lot of luck over the last couple of years and we needed to get some experience and someone who could take our players to the next level,” Merbein president Nathan Hudson said.
“We’ve offered him a coaching opportunity and he’s coming on as a strategic coach.
“He’ll work with the young guys and senior guys.”
Hudson said the ex-AFL player would help current coach Damien Hall in developing the squad to take the next step.
“We have a great senior coach in Damien Hall,” he said.
“We just needed to bring in some more experience to help in certain areas, we have some really talented juniors coming into the senior ranks and we want to give them the best possible development.”
Hudson is confident the new recruits can make a mark.
“It’s exciting times at the moment for us and our members,” he said.
“He’s got some friends at Merbein and we thought it was a good fit.
“He wants to get into coaching and take his next step forward in his career.
“We’ve tried to facilitate that.
“It’s been a lot of hard work (to get the recruits).”
Hudson said it was important Merbein provided a good environment for the ex-AFL player.
“At Merbein, Anthony joins a community that values people before performance,” the president said.
“We’re committed to supporting his growth as a footballer, a mentor, and a person.
“He’ll have the chance to take on new challenges, build new connections, and make a fresh mark in a club that backs its players wholeheartedly.
“We hope Merbein becomes a place where he feels respected, supported, and at home — not just on Saturdays, but every day he pulls on the black-and-white jumper.”
Earlier
Ex-AFL player Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will not be at Imperial next year after the club revealed he had “an opportunity too good to refuse” to join another club.
The former Essendon livewire forward, who played 133 AFL games, has been at the Imps for the past two years, in the Sunraysia league, helping the team win the 2024 premiership.
All up, he kicked 80 goals in 33 games and was among the best in 17.
But in 2026 the livewire won’t be donning the green and white, instead, moving to another club.
“We’ve been quite aware for sometime he had an approach from another club and we weren’t prepared to meet those demands,” Imperial president Dale Stafford said.
“We didn’t offer Anthony anything for 2026, he came to us with an opportunity that was too good to refuse.
“We parted ways mutually and we’re happy for Anthony to move forward and pursue other opportunities.
“We wish him all the best.”
Stafford said he was proud of how the club has helped McDonald-Tipungwuti find his feet after his AFL career.
And he was always welcome back at Imperial.
“As a club, we are extremely proud of the care and support we have provided Anthony throughout his time with us,” he said.
“His growth, his relationship with teammates and supporters is something we stand proud of.
“To Anthony, Walla, Tippa it was your off field presence where our love, care and support truly mattered. We sincerely hope your new environment gives you everything you need to continue your path post AFL.
“We look forward to seeing you around ‘Tippa’ and sharing wonderful memories at our premiership reunion in years to come.”
Stafford said the club would now look at recruiting to replace him.
McDonald-Tipungwuti was a five-pointer, which now allows the club to bring in players to fit under the 39 points the team will have for 2026.
“It opens up the door for us to consider our other options,” Stafford said.
“We’ve been doing our due diligence around using his points and salary to explore other opportunities.
“We’ve got some things up our sleeves but we’ll hold them off for now.”
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Originally published as Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti leaves Imperial to join Merbein
