Essendon cult figure Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has thrilled the Bombers faithful in their 59-point AFL belting of arch-rivals Hawthorn.
In his first senior game since late 2021, McDonald-Tipungwuti generated the biggest cheers of the match when he was subbed into the game during the last quarter.
He kicked a goal moments later as the Bombers started the regime of coach Brad Scott with the 19.10 (124) to 9.11 (65) victory.
McDonald-Tipungwuti, known as Walla, briefly retired from the AFL last year before he was talked into returning.
His goal capped an impressive Sunday afternoon for the Bombers at the MCG, with father-son recruit Alwyn Davey also kicking a goal on debut.
Bombers forward Archie Perkins starred with 20 disposals, seven marks and three goals, while on-baller Darcy Parish racked up a game-high 37 disposals.
In his 200th game, Essendon midfielder Dylan Shiel left the field in the last quarter with a sore shoulder, while Hawks veteran Chad Wingard (calf) also went off in the final term.
Essendon recovered from some scratchy ball use in the second term to overwhelm the Hawks.
Hawthorn had won their last five round one matches and used this season opener to honour the 1983 premiership team, who mauled Essendon in that year’s grand final.
But the Bombers had the much better sense of occasion, producing a solid win to give their fans a badly needed morale boost following a tumultuous off-season.
After Essendon opened with two quick goals, Hawthorn steadied and kicked the next four – including an outstanding piece of play from Wingard when his baulk left the Bombers’ defenders flat-footed.
A late goal from Essendon’s Jye Menzie restricted the damage to 10 points at the first change.
The lead switched repeatedly in the second term and so did play, as a succession of turnovers meant ping-pong football.
Midway through the second quarter, Changkuoth Jiath rivalled Wingard for goal of the day with his polished finish on the run.
It gave Hawthorn the lead again and they were looking more likely to break the game open.
But it was their last goal of the half, as former Melbourne forward Sam Weideman kicked two and Davey thrilled the Bombers fans just before the main break.
After missing a couple of chances, Davey kicked accurately from his set shot and Essendon led by 16 at half time.
Perkins kicked two goals in the third quarter and lit up the game as Essendon overpowered Hawthorn with six goals to two behinds, for a 53-point lead at the last break.
Hawthorn broke Essendon’s run of eight goals when Luke Breust kicked his second, four minutes into the final term.
New Hawks captain James Sicily had 30 possessions in defence and on-baller James Worpel impressed with 14 contested possessions and seven clearances.
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