ESSENDON Next-Generation Academy member Anthony Munkara is one of the most talked about AFL Draft prospects in 2022. He burst into first round contention with a promising display for the AFL Academy against Collingwood VFL, and made Bombers fans sweat that he would be well out of reach to match a bid. Then an ankle injury forced him to the sidelines, and he could not quite recapture his form, putting him back to potentially don the red sash in 2023.

Bombers fans have been excited all year about the prospect of picking up Munkara alongside fellow Northern Territory teenagers, Alwyn Davey Jr and Jayden Davey. However unlike the Davey twins, Munkara is available to the open pool in the first 40 selections. That means a waiting game for the red and black, unless they choose to use their Pick 22 on Munkara, and match a bid on Davey Jr with their later selection.

Speaking to Munkara at the National Draft Combine, even he was unsure if he would end up in the red and black, or other colours. Though he has his ties to the Bombers, Munkara is actually a Brisbane supporter growing up, and said he was happy to go wherever in order to get his chance.

“Anyone who gets me I’m still happy,” he said. “Travelling is more difficult for me, but I’m getting there. It’s been good.”

Munkara had the whirlwind 2022 season, with a blistering start to the season, before injury struck and curtailed what promised to be a big top-age year, not that Bombers fans will mind. The Territory talent enjoyed taking on Collingwood VFL early in his top-age campaign.

“It was different and it was to challenge yourself to play the big fellas in the AFL,” Munkara said. “I went down to a school down in Adelaide and played a bit of school footy and a bit of SANFL, then I moved up and played Allies [for] one game, then I rolled my ankle and I got injured.”

Since that time, Munkara went back and played some school footy, eventually heading home for the holidays to train with other Northern Territory prospects. He was particularly focused on improving the defensive attributes in his game to match his outstanding clean hands at ground level, aerial ability and explosive speed.

“You just got to push hard and don’t leave a little gap, you’ve got to push yourself into him and put on the pressure,” he said.

Playing anywhere inside 50 be it deeper or as a centre half-forward, the 186cm forward has been able to experience plenty in a short space of time. Munkara played in both the NTFL and SANFL, then went to represent Australia and the Allies, along with his school footy making him one of the more adaptable players in this year’s AFL Draft crop.

“NTFL is more quicker because they move the ball quick, but SANFL is playing the role, they mark the ball, push back, look for options,” Munkara said.

“It (playing against Collingwood VFL) was really good, but I was pretty nervous at the first half, second, then I had a talk to myself and done what I done. It’s a really good experience for me for next year when I play AFL experienced players.”

Munkara is now just days away from landing on an AFL list, and the talented forward hopes to follow in the footsteps of another Indigenous star from the Tiwi Islands, Cyril Rioli.

‘Since I was growing up I wanted to be like Cyril Rioli, all the Tiwi boys where I’m from, I wanted to be like them,” he said. I came from a long away and I ended up doing the hard work and kept pushing myself. I was wishing for this day to come and it came true, so it’s not that far.”