Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
McDonald-Tipungwuti playing in June 2017.
Personal information
Full name	Anthony William Watson McDonald-Tipungwuti
Nickname(s)	Walla, Tippa
Date of birth	(1993-04-22) 22 April 1993
Place of birth	Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory
Original team(s)	Tiwi Bombers (NTFL) Gippsland Power (TAC Cup) Essendon reserves (VFL)
Draft	No. 22, 2015 rookie draft
Height	171 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current club	Essendon
Number	43
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2016–	Essendon	106 (119)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2020.
Career highlights
Essendon leading goalkicker: 2020
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Anthony William Watson McDonald-Tipungwuti (born 22 April 1993) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by Essendon with their second selection in the 2015 rookie draft. McDonald-Tipungwuti made his debut in Round 1 of the 2016 season against the Gold Coast Suns.

Early life

McDonald-Tipungwuti was born and raised on the Tiwi Islands, off the coast of Darwin, into an Indigenous Australian family. He played his junior football for the Tiwi Bombers in the Northern Territory Football League before moving to Victoria at the age of 17 to better his chances of an AFL career. He was adopted by Jane McDonald in Gippsland and took on her name as recognition of her contribution to his journey. Joining the family as the youngest brother of the McDonald family. He attended school at Chairo Christian School in Drouin after moving to Victoria where he learnt to speak English. He spent six years playing for the Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup and Essendon's reserves team in the VFL before realising his dream when he was rookie listed by Essendon at the end of 2015.

AFL career

Following the many suspensions handed out to Essendon players at the end of 2015 for the supplements controversy fallout, McDonald-Tipungwuti was elevated to the Bombers' senior list. He made his AFL debut in round 1 of the 2016 AFL season against the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium, and has retained his position in the team ever since. In July 2020, he broke the record for most consecutive AFL games for Essendon.

McDonald-Tipungwuti has been a picture of consistency through his first 5 seasons with the club finishing in the top 10 of the Best and Fairest every year. He finished 5th in 2018, 7th in 2016, 2017 & 2020 and 8th in 2019.

He was Essendon’s leading goal kicker in the shortened 2020 COVID-19 season affected season with 19 goals.

He is notable for his explosive pace, excellent ball use, emphatic tackles and hair. He helps the Bombers fast attacking style in the game.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2020

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2016	Essendon	43	21	8	9	186	127	313	89	67	0.4	0.4	8.9	6.0	14.9	4.2	3.2
2017	Essendon	43	23	34	17	179	121	71	78	84	1.5	0.7	7.8	5.3	13.0	3.4	3.7
2018	Essendon	43	22	26	14	160	110	270	75	99	1.2	0.6	7.3	5.0	12.3	3.4	4.5
2019	Essendon	43	23	32	13	166	97	263	66	99	1.4	0.6	7.2	4.2	11.4	2.9	4.3
2020	Essendon	43	17	19	7	86	61	147	35	57	1.1	0.4	5.1	3.6	8.7	2.1	3.6
Career			106	119	60	777	516	1293	343	406	1.1	0.6	7.3	4.9	12.2	3.2	3.8

External links

• Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti's profile on the official website of the Essendon Football Club
• Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti's playing statistics from AFL Tables