AFL 2022: Who will replace Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti while he is out?
With no clear timeframe for an Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti return, as he deals with personal issues, Essendon need to adapt if they wish to break their finals drought.
Essendon believes it still has the forward firepower to cover for the loss of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti as senior midfielder Dylan Shiel and young draftee Ben Hobbs prepare to spend time in attack this year.
The Dons have known for some time McDonald-Tipungwuti was unlikely to feature in the early rounds of the season given a lingering calf injury but he has now taken personal time away from the club.
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It means a club that had hoped in the trade period to secure GWS small forward Bobby Hill and Gold Coast’s electric goalsneak Malcolm Rosas Jnr has at least had time to plan for his absence.
Champion Data rated McDonald-Tipungwuti as one of only four players from 2021 who ranked elite for goals, score assists and score involvements alongside Toby Greene, Tom Papley and Isaac Heeney.
McDonald-Tipungwuti has been given a modified training schedule but clearly will not factor in early rounds even if he does return soon given he would need to find match fitness with a lengthy training block.
Jake Stringer remains Essendon’s most dynamic medium forward but will also be needed in the midfield given his rampaging form as a player in the Dustin Martin mould in the back end of last season.
Archie Perkins is also ready to make another jump after an impressive summer that followed his debut season, where he played 21 games and kicked 9.14 with flashes of brilliance.
In Essendon’s losing final he managed only six goalless possessions as the No.9 draft pick understandably tired after a long season but the hard trainer has put in another strong pre-season.
Hobbs was selected with the No.13 draft pick as an hard-tackling fierce inside beast but he also has a goal-kicking edge to his game and given the strong Dons midfield he will spend time forward.
Shiel returned from a Round 2 meniscus injury to play six late-season games and will again spend time at half forward, while last year’s mid-season pick Sam Durham will also be part of the attacking mix.
Devon Smith, Will Snelling, Alec Waterman and Kyle Langford will also spend time forward but McDonald-Tipungwuti’s brilliance is impossible to replace.
He kicked 34.14 in 20 games last year as a superb fall-of-the-ball crumbing forward who often creates goals from the most meagre of opportunities.
But Essendon believes it is creating a game style of fierce pressure and quick ball movement reminiscent of Richmond’s premiership best that gets the ball into attack to the best advantage of its front six.
Essendon’s free agency acquisition Jake Kelly told the club’s website this weekend he could not be more impressed by his new teammates after crossing from Adelaide to help key defensive talls Jordan Ridley and James Stewart.
“I can’t speak more highly of the group and how motivated and driven they are,” he said.
“It’s really easy to come in to work with 45 driven blokes all driving towards a premiership.
“It’s good when there is that unity of vision and unity of purpose. It’s a good place to be.
“I know coming here with the staff and coaches and players, they are on the cusp if we get something right we can do something special for years to come, you can feel it and it’s a great spot.”
Bombers agree it’s in Walla’s ‘best interests’ to step away
Essendon has vowed to give dynamic forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti as much time as he needs to deal with personal issues away from the club.
Just six weeks out from Round 1, the Bombers agreed to grant the 28-year-old leave, believing it is in his “best interests”.
No timeframe has been put on when McDonald-Tipungwuti is expected back at the club.
Essendon has given McDonald-Tipungwuti a modified training program to complete during his time away, mindful that he has also been working to overcome a pre-season calf injury.
The club will continue to support McDonald-Tipungwuti through his indefinite period of leave.
“The wellbeing of our players and staff is always our priority when guiding our decision making. It was the driving force behind our decision to run a part-time program pre-Christmas which benefitted all involved in our program,” Mahoney said.
“With this in mind, we have prioritised Anthony’s wellbeing in making a decision to grant him time away from the club.
“Anthony has been very open with us about some of his personal struggles and coupled with his recovery from a calf injury, we felt this leave period was in the best interests to support Anthony.
“He is a much loved member of our football club, and we will continue to care for, and fully support, Anthony throughout this time and we look forward to his return in the future.”
Hailing from the Tiwi Islands, McDonald-Tipungwuti has played 126 AFL games since joining the Bombers through the 2015 rookie draft.
He averaged 10.1 disposals, 1.7 goals and 5.8 score involvements from 20 games last season.
‘Personal struggles’: Star Bomber takes indefinite break
Essendon forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has been granted indefinite leave from the club in a blow to the Bombers just six weeks out from Round 1.
The club has been working with McDonald-Tipungwuti in recent months as he deals with personal issues as well as a calf injury which has hampered his pre-season.
But the Bombers have agreed to grant the dynamic forward time away from the club, labelling it in his “best interests”.
It is the second time in six months that McDonald-Tipungwuti has taken personal leave from the club after he also missed the final three games of last season due to personal reasons.
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Essendon football boss Josh Mahoney said the 28-year-old was a much-loved figure at the club and the Bombers would continue to provide all the support they could to him.
“The wellbeing of our players and staff is always our priority when guiding our decision making. It was the driving force behind our decision to run a part-time program pre-Christmas which benefited all involved in our program,” Mahoney said.
“With this in mind, we have prioritised Anthony’s wellbeing in making a decision to grant him time away from the club.
“Anthony has been very open with us about some of his personal struggles and coupled with his recovery from a calf injury, we felt this leave period was in the best interests to support Anthony.
“He is a much loved member of our football club, and we will continue to care for, and fully support, Anthony throughout this time and we look forward to his return in the future.”
Hailing from the Tiwi Islands, McDonald-Tipungwuti has played 126 AFL games since joining the Bombers through the 2015 rookie draft.
He averaged 10.1 disposals, 1.7 goals and 5.8 score involvements from 20 games last season.
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