AFL 2023; Essendon’s Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has retired for good

Essendon cult hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti‘s return to football hasn’t worked out and he’s called time on his career for a second time and will play a farewell match against Collingwood on Friday night at the MCG.

After being lured into making a comeback in 2023 following an initial and emotional retirement from the game last year, McDonald-Tipungwuti has played just six games for the Bombers and will bow out, for good, with 132 career games.

Recruited out of Essendon’s VFL side, McDonald-Tipungwuti became a fan favourite and a mainstay of the forward line, winning the club’s goal kicking award in 2020.

He retired at the end of the 2021 season as he battled weight issues, but expressed interest in a return and the Bombers signed him up, again.

The livewire received a standing ovation in Round 1 at the MCG when McDonald-Tipungwuti came on the field as a substitute against Hawthorn and kicked a goal.

But the 30-year-old was soon dropped to the VFL and has last played in round 11 before the Bombers, who can’t make the finals, moved to give him his Friday farewell.

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