Could the addition of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti prove the missing piece as Fremantle go in search of their first premiership?
That was the question asked to SEN’s Sam Hargreaves after the retired small forward was linked to an AFL return with the Dockers this week.
While McDonald-Tipungwuti is still weighing up whether to make a return, both his former club and Essendon are considered keen suitors for the 29-year-old.
In response to the big question, Hargreaves didn’t go as far as to say that the small forward would be the entire difference, but he feels he would make Justin Longmuir’s best 22 a “significantly improved side”.
“There’s probably a bit of ball movement stuff and maybe some key forward stuff that’s probably the missing piece,” Hargreaves said on SEN.
“But I think he’d be a brilliant addition to Freo who you’ve got some great pressure forwards as it is.
“I loved (Lachie) Schultz’s year, what (Sam) Switkowski does, I think (Michael) Frederick is an absolute jet and once you start playing a faster brand then Frederick will be even more of a weapon.
“But what Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti does is he has impact, he has impact physically, he has impact defensively, he has an impact on the scoreboard.
“He is at his best, one of the best small forwards in the game and we may have forgotten that.
“If he goes to Fremantle, he will make you a significantly improved side.”
McDonald-Tipungwuti played 126 games for the Bombers between 2016 and 2021, kicking 153 goals.
He retired in May this year, citing personal reasons in his decision to hang up the boots.