It was a moment which caught many off guard. 

An admired figure amongst the Essendon faithful and wider AFL community, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s decision to retire from the game midway through the 2022 season was a shock to many. 

Speaking on the latest episode of Essendon FC’s One on One podcast, McDonald-Tipungwuti admitted he felt the timing was right to walk away from football last year, needing the space to rediscover his purpose away from the sport. 

That began with an emotional farewell to the playing group, which saw a visceral reaction from many of his teammates. 

“It was an emotional day to say goodbye to guys that I’ve known for a while,” McDonald-Tipungwuti said. 

“When I finished the speech, I remember (Dylan Shiel) coming back and saying to me ‘it’s not done yet!’ To hear that from a colleague and someone I’ve really admired for a long time, it’s special and I kept that for a while.” 

McDonald-Tipungwuti’s stint away from the club would prove to be a rewarding experience, travelling around Australia in a caravan accompanied by his adored dog Drover and other family members. 

The trip, particularly the sections throughout rural communities in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, had a moving effect on McDonald-Tipungwuti, who cites it as an important time in his life. 

 “I needed to travel and go to see the country. It was probably the best trip I’ve ever had,” McDonald-Tipungwuti said. 

“For me personally, I just had to go and find myself again and enjoy being myself. I think I lost that a bit, especially being in an environment focused on football." 

Although McDonald-Tipungwuti knew he had made the right call, that didn’t stop the squad’s senior leaders from planting the seed for the live wire forward’s potential comeback. 

It wasn’t just the pull of his teammates that would sway ‘Walla’ back into the red and black either, with the experiences away helping him reflect on his broader impact as a person and footballer.  

“All through the trip, especially travelling through the middle, (Zach Merrett) was pretty much being a pest and asking, "what are we doing, are we training, are we holding on, I need you to come back",” McDonald-Tipungwuti said. 

“Seeing the feedback for an AFL player (in Indigenous communities) and someone they really admire, for me it was eye-opening having done so much to help young kids follow their dreams and seeing other communities really appreciate you coming to visit them.” 

Once McDonald-Tipungwuti had decided to commit to his AFL return in November of 2022, he faced the uphill battle of entering a gruelling pre-season after six months completely removed from the game. 

Throughout its challenges however, McDonald-Tipungwuti never lost sight of the inspiration he was providing for the people he’d been exposed to along the way.  

“It was the toughest pre-season I’ve ever had. There were heaps of times where I thought there was no way I’d get back and it was all too hard,” McDonald-Tipungwuti said. 

 “I remember just going for a run and thinking if I can do this, then at least there’s kids out there who can be inspired by my story and continue to work hard.” 

By March of 2023, ‘Walla’ was primed for a return to senior football in the season-opener against Hawthorn, coming on as the tactical substitute to a deafening roar from both sets of fans before kicking a memorable goal. 

Despite admitting to feeling nervous heading into his comeback match, it is now a day McDonald-Tipungwuti won’t be forgetting anytime soon. 

“It was a humbling moment in my career to receive such big support from everyone in the stadium for both teams, I went home (that night) and I couldn’t sleep,” McDonald-Tipungwti said. 

“It was one of the craziest moments I’ve ever experienced.”  

Now approaching the midway point of the season, McDonald-Tipungwuti is piecing together a nice run of continuity in the side and bringing his trademark pressure and goal sense to the forward line.  

Reflecting upon what once seemed like an improbable return, ‘Walla’ is hopeful that others can use his story as a source of inspiration in their own personal journeys.  

“It’s just (about) sharing my story and making people understand that it’s okay to struggle, but you’ve got to keep going and push through,” McDonald-Tipungwuti said. 

“Life’s going to be hard but if you’re going to do it, do it at your best.”