Old mates link like champs at Swans
IT WAS almost a decade ago that the imposing pairing of Kurt Tippett and Jesse White was dominating on the basketball court for the Queensland under-18s.
Tippett starred at the 2004 national championships and looked destined for the NBL when given a spot on the Brisbane Bullets’ development squad.
White was named player of the 2005 national titles and then offered a scholarship by the Australian Institute of Sport.
Originally from Melbourne, White was drawn to Aussie rules and talked good mate Tippett, who had been born in Sydney, into giving “footy” a go as well.
By 2006, Tippett and White had again teamed up in maroon to represent their adopted state, this time in the AFL under-18 nationals, and played no small part in Queensland romping to the division two title undefeated.
A few months later they both turned their back on basketball completely when drafted into the AFL, Tippett to Adelaide, White to Sydney.
Seven years on and the two are back together as the pillars of a new-look Sydney attack that could secure a second straight premiership for the club.
With Adam Goodes and Sam Reid both enduring extended breaks because of injury, the Queensland pair has formed a formidable union, their output rivalling their substantial frames.
Tippett, who stands 202cm and weighs 104kg, has booted a total of 26 goals in the past six rounds, and White, 196cm and 104kg, has slotted 12, playing further up the ground, for a combined total of 38 since round 16.
By comparison, in that time Hawthorn’s Jarryd Roughead (18) and Lance Franklin (13) have 31, although the latter has missed three matches; Collingwood’s Travis Cloke (17) and Ben Reid (9) have 26, and Geelong’s Tom Hawkins (11) and James Podsiadly (8) have 19 in five games each.
The Swans are hosted by the Cats tomorrow and there will be a couple of epic battles when Tippett and White are manned by Tom Lonergan and Harry Taylor respectively.
White has resurrected his career after playing 56 games in his previous five seasons, including just three in 2012, for two goals.
With Goodes and Lewis Jetta to return from injury, and wily veteran Jude Bolton, goalsneak Ben McGlynn and goalkicking ruckman Mike Pyke down there as well, the Swans will have an at- tack to rival Hawthorn’s.
Of course, it wasn’t meant to be this way – and 18 months ago Reid was the man the Swans were looking to build their forward line around, with Shane Mumford and Pyke in the ruck.
Then, in a move Wall Street’s Gordon “greed is good” Gecko would have admired, the Swans went after Tippett, who had made himself available, just because they could.
White was surplus – the trade bait used to dangle in front of Adelaide in a bid to reel in his old mate. White met Crows officials at West Lakes, but in the end, they didn’t want him, and Tippett eventually made it to the Har- bour City anyway, albeit in controversial circumstances, via the pre-season draft.
Wonder if the Crows, with Taylor Walker lost to a season-ending knee injury in round five, are rueing that decision now?
Making the most of his second chance, a more mature White is desperate to live up to his early potential and shore up his career at the top level.
It’s just a matter of whether his future remains in Sydney, with interest now coming from around the country. Fremantle has inquired about his services and no doubt others such as Brisbane and Carlton will as well. Yep, 12 months is a long time in footy.