"BALL UP!" - Val's 2023 Aussie Rules Footy Tipping *Open to Everyone*

[Val]

We're enjoying the much more joyous ICC Men's Cricket World Cup qualifier games being played in Zimbabwe. Beautiful sunshine, lesser light countries giving their all and a crowd that just loves singing!

[Val]

Suzy's tips

Swans by 7
Dogs
Eagles
Hawks
Saints
Suns
Roos
Dons
Blues

[Val]

My tips:

Tigers x 8
Pies
Lions
Giants
Dees
Port
Cats
Dons (more in hope than anything - we really need this one!)
Blues

[Anita]

Val,I'll put
SWANS BY 18
I'll do the rest later.

[Tim]

I agree with Bairstow. He should not be in team as Foakes a 100% better wicketkeeper and very good batsman. I have been saying this all series to folks back in UK. Also have sympathy with thoughts the Aussies knew he always left crease. Living down here I see the argument from both sides.
Now turning to this evening and another contentious issue. Swans should have won having been in total control. Swans would have won with Jake Llyod still on ground. Reason he wasnt was fact he was knocked out of game by Richmond Vice Captain Nankervis who should know better. It was a cowardly late hit direct to the jaw and in any other sport would receive a red card. In AFL he may get a 3 week ban but that is no good to the Swans tonight.
I am seething about this because he has no defence whatsoever but we lose the game which has put us out of finals contention. We are heading there anyway but his moment of madness cost us one of our top defenders. Why should we be penalised by this action and the culprit is allowed to remain for the remainder of the game.

[Val]

I didn't see the incident - flicking between the footy, Headingley and Bulawayo (a nail-biting finish coming up between Scotland and The Netherlands) - but I've never liked Nankervis - a great bully of a player. Swans looked as though they had the game won up until the last few minutes. It's horrible when foul play costs you the game.

[Val]

And I will have to revise my opinion of Mitch Marsh.

[Val]

Tonight's result:

Richmond Tigers (Philip) v Sydney Swans (Anita)
2.1.13 (Q1) 4.4.28
5.6.36 (Q2) 8.6.54
8.12.60 (Q3) 10.8.68
12.16.88 (Q4) 11.9.75

The prize for closest margin is shared by David and Dean - they each win $7.00 for their charities, The Song Room and The Sacred Heart Mission. Well done fellas!

[Val]

Bad luck Scotland.

[Anita]

magpies
lions
hawks
saints
pow er
cats
crows
dockers

[Val]

Tonight's result:

Western Bulldogs (Blastro) v Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus)
3.1.19 (Q1) 1.4.10
6.5.41 (Q2) 5.6.36
7.7.49 (Q3) 11.8.74
11.11.77 (Q4) 13.11.89

The Doggies came out fighting and scored three goals without answer but you always knew the Pies would get their act in order at some stage. The Pies look invincible this year yet a lot of their wins are by slight margins.

[Tim]

Wished I had watched the cricket world cup qualifiers. Been some cracking games

[Val]

Yesterday's results:

Brisbane Lions (David) v West Coast Eagles (Sussex)
7.3.45 (Q1) 2.0.12
10.8.68 (Q2) 2.2.14
13.14.92 (Q3) 3.3.21
16.20.116 (Q4) 5.5.35

GWS Giants (Duke) v Hawthorn Hawks (available)
5.3.33 (Q1) 3.4.22
7.9.51 (Q2) 7.7.49
9.13.67 (Q3) 8.8.56
12.13.85 (Q4) 10.12.72

St Kilda Saints (Tim) v Melbourne Demons (on hiatus)
3.5.23 (Q1) 5.0.30
4.7.31 (Q2) 7.2.44
6.8.44 (Q3) 9.5.59
8.10.58 (Q4) 12.7.79

Port Adelaide Power (available) v Gold Coast Suns (Suzy)
2.2.14 (Q1) 4.1.25
5.3.33 (Q2) 6.3.39
14.5.89 (Q3) 7.4.46
16.10.106 (Q4) 11.7.73

I was too tired to post last night - birthday parties for 4 year olds are exhausting! And I'm out tonight so tallying up may have to wait too.

[theDuke]

Your Bombers were superb today Val.....that first quarter was something else...12 goals between them!

[Val]

Today's results:

Geelong Cats (available) v North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve)
8.5.15 (Q1) 2.0.12
11.5.23 (Q2) 2.4.16
14.8.37 (Q3) 5.7.37
19.11.125 (Q4) 9.9.63

Essendon Bombers (Val) v Adelaide Crows (Dean)
7.6.48 (Q1) 5.2.20
12.9.81 (Q2) 7.2.44
14.13.97 (Q3) 9.5.59
17.13.115 (Q4) 15.7.97

Fremantle Dockers (available) v Carlton Blues (available)
0.3.3 (Q1) 4.3.27
2.7.19 (Q2) 6.8.44
2.8.20 (Q3) 12.12.84
6.9.45 (Q4) 14.14.98

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Round 17 (first number is correct number of wins - you want this to be high; number in brackets is the cumulative margin which is used to separate punters on the same amount of points - you want this to be low)

Val on 9 (5)
Duke on 8 (4)
David on 7 (2)
Dean on 7 (2)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 7 (12)
SussexWelsh on 7 (15)
Philip on 7 (18)
Tim on 6 (28)
Anita on 4 (31)
Suzy on 1 (20)
Blastro on 1 (41)

Charity donations are:

To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$7.00 - Highest score (Cats - 125)
David (The Song Room) and Dean (Sacred Heart Mission) - A$7.00 each (closest margin)
Val (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

Val on 98 (481)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 98 (493)
SussexWelsh on 94 (570)
Philip on 93 (433)
David on 93 (506)
Duke on 92 (539)
Tim on 86 (524)
Anita on 78 (500)
Dean on 76 (592)
Blastro on 53 (786)
Suzy on 45 (458)

Well look at me go! Well done the Bombers and the Blues for rewarding my faith in them.

[Val]

N.B. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR TIPS EARLY!!! THERE'S A THURSDAY NIGHT GAME!!!

If anyone would like to view the AFL Ladder before submitting next week's tips, it's at http://www.afl.com.au/ladder

ROUND 18

Thursday Jul 13
Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs (in Sydney)

Friday Jul 14
Melbourne Demons v Brisbane Lions (in Melbourne)

Saturday Jul 15
Collingwood Magpies v Fremantle Dockers (in Melbourne)
Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda Saints (on the Gold Coast)
Carlton Blues v Port Adelaide Power (in Melbourne)
Geelong Cats v Essendon Bombers (in Geelong)
Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants (in Adelaide)

Sunday Jul 16
North Melbourne Kangaroos v Hawthorn Hawks (in Melbourne)
West Coast Eagles v Richmond Tigers (in Perth)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight WEDNESDAY Jul 12 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.15am THURSDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[Val]

Every team analysed after Round 17 in just three words.

ADELAIDE CROWS: Fear of flying.

BRISBANE LIONS: Going through motions.

CARLTON: Somehow still alive!

COLLINGWOOD: (Nick? Josh?) Daicos not bad...

ESSENDON: Can smell September.

FREMANTLE: An absolute shocker.

GEELONG: Simply clinical stuff.

GOLD COAST SUNS: Woeful quarters costly.

GWS GIANTS: Just keep winning.

HAWTHORN: Back to competitiveness.

MELBOURNE: Safely fourth? Almost...

NORTH MELBOURNE: Cooper (Harvey) already promising.

PORT ADELAIDE: Premiership quarter brilliance.

RICHMOND: Inching towards eight.

ST KILDA: Injury misfortune returns.

SYDNEY SWANS: Luckless. Season over.

WEST COAST EAGLES: Not 100 plus!

WESTERN BULLDOGS: Promising night overall?

[Val]

N.B. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR TIPS EARLY!!! THERE'S A THURSDAY NIGHT GAME!!!

[Tim]

Many congratulations Val a fantastic week topped off by Bombers victory. Will make life tough for a few teams.
On top of that England just keep Ashes alive to set up a thrilling finale.

[Tim]

Not so good for Eddie Jones return to the Wallabies. A dreadful start where nothing went right. Hope he can weave some magic before I go the the All Blacks game at the MCG in 3 weeeks.
Speaking of which am goung to see Brisbane Lions at MCG this coming Friday taking on the Demons with friends down from Brisbane who have never been to MCG.

[David]

Thanks Val and well punted.

Swans 15
Lions
Magpies
Suns
Power
Cats
Crows
Hawks
Tigers

[Sj]

Val wrote: "Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:
Well look at me go! Well done the Bombers and the Blues for rewarding my faith in them"
gulp!
Nine outa nine! Way to go Val

ROUND 18
Sydney Swans by 18
Melbourne Demons
Collingwood Magpies
Gold Coast Suns
Port Adelaide Power
Geelong Cats
Adelaide Crows
Hawthorn Hawks
Richmond Tigers

[Tim]

This is a tough week and as matters heating up some unpredictable results
Swans by 8
Lions (maintaining faith with my 2 favourite teams there)
Collingwood
St Kilda
Port Adelaide
Geelong ( only because Bombers struggling in the ruck this weekend)
Crows (because it is tough for Sydney teams in Adelaide)
Hawks
Tigers

[Val]

Tim wrote: "Many congratulations Val a fantastic week topped off by Bombers victory. Will make life tough for a few teams.
On top of that England just keep Ashes alive to set up a thrilling finale."

Unfortunately I had to go out about 4.30pm last Sunday so I saw very little of the Bombers game. I thought they would be like so many other teams both in this round and in recent weeks - lead for most of the game and then cough it up in the final quarter. Very thrilled that they played it out even though Adelaide did come home quite strong.

If Australia were going to lose a Test then I am glad it happened at Headingley. I did my post-grad library diploma in Leeds where I had a wonderful year, especially following Leeds United all the way to an F.A. Cup win (sitting just behind the Queen!). So I'll always have a special place in my heart for Leeds.

I'm afraid I have little knowledge or interest in rugby of whatever code, even though it was the predominant sport in southern Africa. I grew up in a round ball family so I'm much more invested in the Women's World Cup starting next week.

Hope you and your friends get to see a cracker of a game on Friday night!

[Tim]

Thanks Val looking forward to Friday evening.
I too looking forward to womens football world cup which I think will be a wonderful tournament.
Rugby Union is the only sport Victoria is interested in and as I love it too we enjoy going to maches together. We will be at the Bledisloe match against the All Blacks at the MCG at the end of July. Then off to the world cup in France in October for 4 weeks.

[Tim]

Sorry you have little excuse if you grew up in Southern Africa not liking Rugby. We saw Namibia play Georgia in the 2015 world cup in Exeter and the atmosphere was amazing at a relatively small ground although our group of Australians had the whole terrace singing for Namibia by the end of the game!
Leeds... must have been a
good time. Not many happy memories for me at Elland Road but thats because Spurs always lost there.

[Philip]

Well done Val, great punting

Western x 10
Brisbane
Collingwood
St Kilda
Port Adelaide
Geelong
Adelaide
Hawthorn
Richmond

[Anita]

mine
SWANS BY19
lions
pies
suns
power
cats
crows
hawks
tigers

[theDuke]

Ooohhh.....i was so close, just Freo denying me a full house...for the 2nd week! Well done Val....fine tipping! Let's see if i can do better this week:

R18:

Dogs - 5 pts
Demons
Pies
Saints
Port
Cats
Crows
Hawks
Tigers

[Val]

Suzy's tips:

Dogs x 7
Dees
Freo
Saints
Blues
Dons
Giants
North
Eagles

[Val]

Mine:

Dogs x 9
Dees
Pies
Suns
Port
Cats
Crows
Hawks
Tigers

[SussexWelsh]

Bulldogs by 11

rest to follow ...

Lions
Magpies
Saints
Power
Cats
Crows
Hawks
Tigers

[Dean]

Dogs 28
Demons
Pies
Saints
Port
Cats
Crows
Roos
Tigers

[Val]

Tonight's result:

Sydney Swans (Anita) v Western Bulldogs (Blastro)
2.3.15 (Q1) 5.4.34
6.7.43 (Q2) 6.4.40
8.9.57 (Q3) 9.6.60
11.12.78 (Q4) 11.10.76

Well that must have been a real nail-biter for Tim! But his faith in his Swanees is rewarded with $7.00 going to his chosen charity, Koala Hospital at Port Macquarie. Well done Tim!

I missed tonight's game as I was out at a play - "This Is Living" at The Malthouse. Tim, it's on until July 30 and I highly recommend it. I've been a fan of Ash Flanders for quite a while but as an actor. Here he's the writer and it's a cracker! Five great actors and really believable characters. My only criticism was that some lines got lost (sound desk? actors with backs to audience?).

[Tim]

Thanks Val very tight finish and given our track record this season did not hold out much hope going into last quarter. And yet somehow, this time, managed to crawl over the line. Wayward kicking put us in jeopardy again.
Thanks for the recommendation and we will look into this. Love this small theatre as well.

[Val]

Just as well Tim had a win last night as tonight must have been a horrible finish for him.

Tonight's result:

Melbourne Demons (on hiatus) v Brisbane Lions (David)
6.2.38 (Q1) 3.3.21
8.3.51 (Q2) 8.4.52
12.4.76 (Q3) 15.7.97
16.9.105 (Q4) 16.8.104

Melbourne scoring a goal with 33 seconds left on the clock after the Lions had led by 26 points in the final quarter. I know what it feels like to lose by a point! We were flicking back and forth between the friendly game between the Matildas and France. A lucky win for our girls as the French looked superior - and an unfortunate number of injuries in both teams.

[Tim]

I have not seenit again since watching it live but wasnt that a mark for the Lions immediately before the siren. I thought they dhould have had a kick to win the game or at least get a draw which they fully deserved.

[Val]

I looked as closely as I could on the screen and I thought Lever had it against his body. But I wouldn't like to have ruled on it.

[Tim]

It was so close. Came home on train with a very proud grandmum with her grandson on her lap. He had been one of the youngsters playing on the pitch at half time. Clearly meant a lot to him and she had flown down from Sydney for the occasion and in fact tonight was her first ever AFL game. As I said, a good one to start with.

[Val]

That's a lovely story! My grandson (aged 6) played there last month - I didn't go. From the videos I saw, he's not going to be a footballer. He spent his time, gazing at the lights, pole dancing with the goal posts and running the wrong way.

[theDuke]

Cracking game going on at the Marvel Stadium!

[Val]

Not so cracking game going on down at Geelong!

[theDuke]

Val wrote: "Not so cracking game going on down at Geelong!"

Yes.....not what i expected to see. It's all Cats atm.

But in the other game, Giants are holding their own atm.

[Val]

Today's/Tonight's results:

Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus) v Fremantle Dockers (available)
4.1.25 (Q1) 3.2.20
14.2.86 (Q2) 5.3.33
16.4.100 (Q3) 7.4.46
18.5.113 (Q4) 10.7.67

Gold Coast Suns (Suzy) v St Kilda Saints (Tim)
3.2.20 (Q1) 0.1.1
5.6.36 (Q2) 2.2.14
9.7.61 (Q3) 5.3.33
11.11.77 (Q4) 8.3.51

Carlton Blues (available) v Port Adelaide Power (available)
3.6.24 (Q1) 2.2.14
9.8.62 (Q2) 4.7.31
14.10.94 (Q3) 9.9.63
18.14.122 (Q4) 10.12.72

Geelong Cats (available) v Essendon Bombers (Val)
7.5.47 (Q1) 0.1.1
9.10.64 (Q2) 3.2.20
14.11.95 (Q3) 4.2.26
18.14.122 (Q4) 7.3.45

Adelaide Crows (Dean) v GWS Giants (Duke)
4.3.27 (Q1) 3.4.22
6.5.41 (Q2) 3.6.24
8.8.56 (Q3) 5.9.39
8.9.57 (Q4) 10.11.71

[theDuke]

It's another one of those rounds again isn't it?! Way to go Giants though...woohoo! :)

[Val]

Today's results:

North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve) v Hawthorn Hawks (available)
1.1.7 (Q1) 3.8.26
4.1.25 (Q2) 3.13.31
5.2.32 (Q3) 8.14.62
6.4.40 (Q4) 12.16.88

West Coast Eagles (Sussex) v Richmond Tigers (Philip)
1.1.7 (Q1) 2.6.18
2.5.17 (Q2) 5.9.39
6.8.44 (Q3) 10.13.73
8.12.60 (Q4) 14.14.98

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Round 18 (first number is correct number of wins - you want this to be high; number in brackets is the cumulative margin which is used to separate punters on the same amount of points - you want this to be low)

Sj Brooke (Steve) on 7 (16)
Val on 6 (11)
David on 6 (13)
Anita on 6 (17)
Tim on 5 (6)
Duke on 5 (7)
Philip on 4 (12)
SussexWelsh on 4 (13)
Dean on 4 (30)
Suzy on 3 (9)
Blastro on 2 (40)

Charity donations are:

To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$7.00 each - Highest score (Cats and Carlton - both 122)
Tim (Koala Hospital - Port Macquarie) - A$7.00 (closest margin)
Steve (Backpack Bed For Homeless) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

Sj Brooke (Steve) on 105 (509)
Val on 104 (492)
David on 99 (519)
SussexWelsh on 98 (583)
Philip on 97 (445)
Duke on 97 (546)
Tim on 91 (530)
Anita on 84 (517)
Dean on 80 (622)
Blastro on 55 (826)
Suzy on 48 (467)

Well done Steve! But it's still tight at the top so anyone's to win.

[Val]

If anyone would like to view the AFL Ladder before submitting next week's tips, it's at http://www.afl.com.au/ladder

ROUND 19

Friday Jul 21
Essendon Bombers v Western Bulldogs (in Melbourne)

Saturday Jul 22
Richmond Tigers v Hawthorn Hawks (in Melbourne)
Carlton Blues v West Coast Eagles (in Melbourne)
Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats (in Brisbane)
Port Adelaide Power v Collingwood Magpies (in Adelaide)
Fremantle Dockers v Sydney Swans (in Perth)

Sunday Jul 23
GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns (in Canberra)
Melbourne Demons v Adelaide Crows (in Melbourne)
St Kilda Saints v North Melbourne Kangaroos (in Melbourne)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight THURSDAY Jul 20 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.45am FRIDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[Val]

Every team analysed after Round 18 in just three words.

ADELAIDE CROWS: Costly home fadeout.

BRISBANE LIONS: Lost the unlosable.

CARLTON: New Jack (Silvagni) contract.

COLLINGWOOD: Clear flag favourites.

ESSENDON: Brutal reality check.

FREMANTLE: Flop season over.

GEELONG: Gryan (Myers) so clean.

GOLD COAST SUNS: Expected sugar hit.

GWS GIANTS: Another clutch win.

HAWTHORN: Straightened up … eventually.

MELBOURNE:The Incredible Melk (Jake Melksham).

NORTH MELBOURNE: Priority pick time.

PORT ADELAIDE: Needed that loss?

RICHMOND: Within striking distance.

ST KILDA: Not finals deserving.

SYDNEY SWANS: Win for ‘Horse’ (coach John Longmire).

WEST COAST EAGLES: Six rounds left.

WESTERN BULLDOGS: Senior players vulnerable.