Almost a year to the day Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti announced his retirement, the Essendon forward says he wants to go around again in 2024.
The 30-year-old says he “would love to” play on as confidence in his body grows and he begins to show more of his trademark forward pressure and superb finishing skills.
McDonald-Tipungwuti was subdued in last week’s loss to Brisbane but played his best game of the season in the five-point defeat to Port Adelaide with 13 disposals, four tackles and a goal.
On the eve of the Dreamtime at the ‘G game, the forward from the Tiwi Islands told reporters his aspirations stretched beyond the end of the current season.
“I love playing again, being around the footy club, I’m just taking it week by week but I would love to go again – we’ll see what happens after this year,” he said.
“I was surprised that my body is pulling up really well after games. It’s been great, I’m really enjoying my football.”
McDonald-Tipungwuti said he loved training and playing alongside the club’s young Indigenous players and was looking forward to his sixth Dreamtime game after missing out on playing in the 2022 celebration on the day of his retirement.
“I always look forward to Dreamtime at the ‘G, obviously last year it was my last day, walking out, but I always look forward to it and hopefully we can get a lot of supporters to come from both teams.
“I think we’ll get both teams together to show a celebration of Indigenous culture, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the dancers put on … we’ll share in that experience.
“Coming back now and just seeing the young guys, the Davey twins and Anthony Munkara and Tex Wanganeen – being around those young boys has been really good and I’m really enjoying playing with the guys I’ve been playing with for a few years now.”
Bombers captain Zach Merrett said they were determined to snap a frustrating four-match losing streak in front of a sellout MCG crowd.
“We have lost four games in a row against some really high quality opposition teams, and been in positions to really challenge in probably three of those games, so to not be able to get one or two of those is a little bit disappointing,” he said.
“I don’t think you get to play in many games bigger and better than this one on Saturday night, so the boys are absolutely excited and pumped to get out there.”
Merrett said the Bombers did not give much significance to the 13-game winning streak the Tigers held over them that is an equal competition record.
“I think everyone’s struggled against them the last decade, they’ve been an extremely strong unit,” he said.
“We’ve obviously had a pretty different decade to them … hopefully this is a chance to compete and try to get the four points for the first time in a long time against them.”