Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has despatched Essendon followers into raptures throughout his AFL return on Sunday.
The gang favourite began the day because the sub, however got here on to the bottom within the opening couple of minutes of the final quarter, a lot to the delight of the Essendon devoted.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Crowd erupts over Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti purpose in return sport.
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What was in any other case really fizzling out to be a Sunday afternoon massacre, because the Bombers put Hawthorn to the sword, instantly turned a scene of pleasure.
The gang erupted in applause as McDonald-Tipungwuti ran onto the sector for the primary time since Spherical 21, 2021 as chants of ‘Tippa, Tippa, Tippa’ ran across the MCG earlier than he had even had a contact.
And it did not take lengthy for the livewire ahead to become involved.
Inside minutes, the 29-year-old – who retired for private causes in Might final 12 months – discovered himself on the top of a ahead 50 entry, inside scoring distance.
He went again and slotted the purpose from 50 earlier than being swarmed by each Essendon participant on the bottom.
It elicited clearly the most important cheer from the gang of 68,691, with even Hawks followers warmly applauding.
Though it was outdone only a minute later when he took one other mark inside 50, this time simply 25 meters out.
Apparently shedding their sense of theatre, the footy gods had him miss the set shot, however he was nonetheless worshipped.
His purpose capped a powerful Sunday afternoon for the Bombers on the MCG, with father-son recruit Alwyn Davey additionally kicking a purpose on debut.
Bombers ahead Archie Perkins starred with 20 disposals, seven marks and three targets, whereas on-baller Darcy Parish racked up a game-high 37 disposals.
In his 200th sport, Essendon midfielder Dylan Shiel left the sector within the final quarter with a sore shoulder, whereas Hawks veteran Chad Wingard (calf) additionally went off within the ultimate time period.
Essendon recovered from some scratchy ball use within the second time period to overwhelm the Hawks.
Hawthorn had received their final 5 Spherical 1 matches and used this season opener to honor the 1983 premiership group, who mauled Essendon in that 12 months’s grand ultimate.
However the Bombers had the a lot better sense of event, producing a stable win to present their followers a badly wanted morale enhance following a tumultuous low season.
After Essendon opened with two fast targets, Hawthorn steadied and kicked the following 4 – together with an impressive piece of play from Wingard when his baulk left the Bombers’ defenders flat-footed.
A late purpose from Essendon’s Jye Menzie restricted the harm to 10 factors on the first change.
The lead switched repeatedly within the second time period and so did play, as a succession of turnovers meant ping-pong soccer.
Halfway by means of the second quarter, Changkuoth Jiath rivaled Wingard for purpose of the day along with his polished end on the run.
It gave Hawthorn the lead once more and so they had been wanting extra prone to break the sport open.
Nevertheless it was their final purpose of the half, as former Melbourne ahead Sam Weideman kicked two and Davey thrilled the Bombers followers simply earlier than the principle break.
After lacking a few possibilities, Davey kicked precisely from his set shot and Essendon led by 16 at half time.
Perkins kicked two targets within the third quarter and lit up the sport as Essendon overpowered Hawthorn with six targets to 2 behinds, for a 53-point lead on the final break.
Hawthorn broke Essendon’s run of eight targets when Luke Breust kicked his second, 4 minutes into the ultimate time period.
New Hawks captain James Sicily had 30 possessions in protection and on-baller James Worpel impressed with 14 contested possessions and 7 clearances.
– With AAP
