Former AFL cult hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has led his new team Merbein to a drought-breaking win in the Sunraysia Football League on the weekend.
The Tiwi man joined the Magpies from Imperials this off season and finished with three goals in a comprehensive 16.7 (103) to 9.11 (65) victory over Robinvale Euston at Kenny Park.
Merbein burst from the blocks, producing a six goal to one opening term to take a 29-point lead into the quarter time break.
It was a relatively even contest in the following three quarters, but by that stage the scoreboard damage was already done, as the Magpies cruised to a long-awaited win.
It was the club's first victory in 672 days and it snapped a 24-game losing streak.
Leigh Page, Matt Rix and Scott Bedford also performed strongly, while Korey Loechel kicked a game-high five goals in the 38-point triumph.
Merbein also received a strong contribution from fellow new recruit Nigel Lockyer Jr, who finished with three goals of his own.
Lockyer is a proven talent in his own right, having played more than 50 senior games for SANFL club North Adelaide, while also performing strongly in both the Northern Territory Football League and Central Australian Football League.
McDonald-Tipungwuti told SFNL Media post-match that the victory was a strong team effort, with the club's young leaders and midfield group playing a key role.
"It was a good win ... we've got young leaders (and) I thought all of our midfielders did really well today," McDonald-Tipungwuti said after the win.
"It was a good win for the club and everyone around here."
He said his focus since joining Merbein has been on passing on his experience and helping the group improve.
"Coming in and doing a bit of education - obviously coaching is something that I want to do," he told SFNL Media.
"Just bringing a little bit of my experience, that's what I want to do, to help and grow young footballers.
"It was good to come from a club that won a lot of games (Imperials), to a club that has struggled to win games.
"It was a big focus of the boys to work really hard during pre-season."
The former AFL forward said Merbein's commitment to recruiting Indigenous players had helped make the transition easier for him.
"We've got a lot of Indigenous boys playing at the footy club, and that has made it easier to come across.
"I'm really proud of the club for investing a lot to get Indigenous boys into the footy club, and if we can get more that would be great."
McDonald-Tipungwuti has made a big impact in the Sunraysia competition since joining Imperials at the beginning of the 2024 season.
That season, he played a key role in Imperials' remarkable rise from the bottom of the ladder to a premiership.
His class around goal and experience from 133 AFL games with Essendon made him one of the most influential forwards in the competition.
During his first season in the competition, McDonald-Tipungwuti booted 33 goals from 15 matches in his first year at Imperials.
He backed it up with an even better individual season last year, kicking 47 goals from 18 appearances.
McDonald-Tipungwuti's performance came in a weekend that featured several former Indigenous AFL names making headlines in Victorian local football.
Ex-North Melbourne midfielder Tarryn Thomas made his Victorian local footy debut for Hoppers Crossing in the Western Football League.
He reunited with former Kangaroos teammate Jared Polec and kicked three goals in Hoppers' dominant 15.12 (102) to 3.3 (21) win over Point Cook Centrals.
Dual All-Australian and Melbourne premiership player Steven May also made an immediate impression in his debut for East Ringwood in the Eastern Football League.
The former Demons key defender kicked two goals in a 15.11 (101) to 4.7 (31) win over South Croydon.
