Essendon cult hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti's shock retirement from the AFL aged just 29 has been described as a sad day by Bombers legend Michael Long.
The dynamite Indigenous star has brought his 126-game, 153-goal career to an end ahead of Sir Doug Nicholls Round and the Bombers' Dreamtime clash with Richmond.
McDonald-Tipungwuti been dealing with personal issues and has not played for the Bombers' AFL team since round 21 last year.