The Tiwi Bombers Football Club has announced its new leaders with club legend Shane ‘Tippa’ Tipuamantamerri and experienced assistant coach Jamie Scrymgour appointed to share head coaching duties.

Tipuamantamerri says he grew up ‘as a barefoot Tiwi kid running through communities kicking coke bottles wrapped in newspaper and masking tape’ before he became one the Tiwi community’s most decorated players.

He first played for Glenelg in the SANFL in the late 90s before huge success in the WAFL with South Fremantle from 2000 to 2008 where he was a member of the 2005 senior and 2004 reserves premiership sides.

He then returned to the top end where he became a crucial part of the Bombers’ line-up, culminating in success as the captain of the club’s premiership in 2011/12, before winning the Nichols Medal as the NTFL’s best and fairest player in 2012/13.

After initially retiring over a year ago, Tipuamantamerri returned to the side briefly in the 2018/19 season, but he is set to be a non-playing coach for the Bombers.

Off the field, Tipuamantamerri has maintained his standing as one of the Tiwi Islands’ most prominent role models, living and working at Tiwi College on Melville Island as the boys academy coordinator with a strong connection to the youth in the community.

Fellow proud Tiwi man Scrymgour also donned the sash in his playing days after captaining Wanderers in the NTFL, before entering the coaching ranks and gaining valuable experience in the last six years as an assistant with the Bombers, Wanderers, Palmerston and Darwin.

An academic tutor and indigenous junior guides program mentor at Tiwi College, Scrymgour brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and understanding of the game to the new-look coaching ranks.

Tiwi Bombers GM Leigh Crossman lauded the duo and said the club is “extremely excited about the appointment”.

“Their coaching philosophies align with the direction the club wants to go,” Crossman said on Thursday.

“They spoke about wanting to use football as a vehicle for improving social outcomes. They had a strong emphasis on the Tiwi youth, providing them with opportunities and developing them as people and as footballers.

“This appointment is a long-term sustainable appointment. The club will make sure there are adequate support systems in place for the boys as they begin this massive task of guiding the Tiwi Bombers for season 2019/20.”

Stay tuned on essendonfc.com.au for an exciting additional Tiwi Bombers coaching announcement soon.