"BALL UP!" - Val's 2024 Aussie Rules Footy Tipping *Open to Everyone*

[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
or https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/ladder

ROUND 19

Friday Jul 19
Essendon Bombers v Adelaide Crows (in Melbourne)

Saturday Jul 20
GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns (in Sydney)
St Kilda Saints v West Coast Eagles (in Melbourne)
Hawthorn Hawks v Collingwood Magpies (in Melbourne)
Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs (in Geelong)
Port Adelaide Power v Richmond Tigers (in Adelaide)

Sunday Jul 21
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans (in Brisbane)
Fremantle Dockers v Melbourne Demons (in Perth)
Carlton Blues v North Melbourne Kangaroos (in Melbourne)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight THURSDAY Jul 18 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.30am FRIDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[Val]

Every team analysed after Round 18 in just three words.

ADELAIDE CROWS: Bond. Hugh Bond.(Debut game)

BRISBANE LIONS: Survived Simmo scare. (Departure of Eagles coach ADAM Simpson)

CARLTON: Two rucks? Still?!

COLLINGWOOD: Pies look cooked.

ESSENDON: Not another fadeout?

FREMANTLE: They’ll be fine.

GEELONG: Huge QF chance.

GOLD COAST SUNS: Still alive, somehow.

GWS GIANTS: Toby finding form. (Toby Greene)

HAWTHORN: Tassie fortress rebuilt.

MELBOURNE: Youth movement promising!

NORTH MELBOURNE: Dropoff, as expected.

PORT ADELAIDE: Time to worry.

RICHMOND: Steely name & nature.(First year player Steely Green)

ST KILDA: Back to reality.

SYDNEY SWANS: First by miles.

WEST COAST EAGLES: Fought for Simmo.(Sacked coach Adam Simpson)

WESTERN BULLDOGS: Contender... in 10th.

[suzysunshine7]

YAYYY!!! - Congratulations Anita and Duke!! ... x x

[suzysunshine7]

Val wrote: "GOLD COAST SUNS: Still alive, somehow."

(*GULP*) ... Perhaps I had better have Life Support on standby?

[theDuke]

Crikey...i won a thing! It's been a while! :)

Thank you Val, and congrats to Anita too. Only 6 tips behind the leader, and 6 rounds to go...hmmm..a tall order!

[Tim]

Val, Anita has the Swans for the highest score. I have the Saints which quite frankly are never going to score the most points

[Tim]

This week's tips and still have faith in Bmbers but that is getting tougher
Bombers x 21
Giants
Saints
Hawthorn
Geelong
Port
Swans
Freo
Carlton

[Val]

Tim wrote: "Val, Anita has the Swans for the highest score. I have the Saints which quite frankly are never going to score the most points"

Thanks Tim - the old grey matter is obviously not what it used to be! I have edited the post to reflect Anita's win.

[Sj]

Essendon Bombers +19

GWS Giants
St Kilda Saints
Hawthorn Hawks
Geelong Cats
Port Adelaide Power

Sydney Swans
Fremantle Dockers
Carlton Blues

[SussexWelsh]

.
.
Bombers by 21
Giants
Saints
Hawks
Cats
Power
Lions
Dockers
Blues

[Anita]

My effort
Giants by 15
Saints
Hawks
Cats
Port
SWANS
Dockers
Blues

[Anita]

Sorry I think I've missed the first match.
I'll go bombers by 17

[theDuke]

Couple of 50/50 games here....& Lions v Swans game of the round.

Round 19:

Bombers - 16 pts
GWS
Saints
Hawks
Cats
Power
Lions
Freo
Blues

[Philip]

Just in time I hope...

Essendon x 30
GWS
St Kilda
Collingwood
Geelong
Port Adelaide
Brisbane
Fremantle
Carlton

[Val]

Suzy may be running late so I'll take the liberty of tipping for her;

Crows by 7
Suns
Eagles
Magpies
Bulldogs
Tigers
Lions
Demons
North

[Val]

Mine:

Dons x (they'd better win!!)
Giants
Saints
Hawks (first time I've tipped against the Pies - let's see what happens)
Geelong (not too sure about this one)
Port
Lions (Tim must be fuming about the Tribunal's about face on Charlie Cameron and Toby Bedford)
Freo
Blues

[Val]

Whoops! left out the margin.

Dons x 23

[theDuke]

I don't believe it...Bombers had it in the bag with moments to go....unbelievable.

[Val]

Tonight's result:

Essendon Bombers (Val) v Adelaide Crows (on hiatus)
3.2.20 (Q1) 2.3.15
7.5.47 (Q2) 11.4.70
15.8.98 (Q3) 13.10.88
17.11.113 (Q4) 17.13.115

Least said the better. Bombers' defence was sorely lacking in large swathes of the game. With games against the Swans, Freo and the Lions still to come, they'll be lucky to play finals. Suzy is once again our winner of the closest margin - she earns another $7.00 for friends With Dignity. It breaks my heart to say well done!

[Tim]

So sorry Val. Such a tough and hard fought match.
I was at a wonderful match as well with the son of Sussex! Yes he has moved to Brisbane and we went to the Reds Wales game at Suncorp which ended in a Welsh victory 36 35. Nail biting but a win for Sussex and a crowd who loved the game. That should put Union back on the board.

[Val]

Today's results:

GWS Giants (Duke) v Gold Coast Suns (Suzy)
5.0.30 (Q1) 2.4.16
8.1.49 (Q2) 4.9.33
10.3.63 (Q3) 4.11.35
14.5.89 (Q4) 6.14.50

St Kilda Saints (Tim) v West Coast Eagles (Sussex)
3.3.21 (Q1) 2.0.12
7.5.47 (Q2) 4.4.28
10.9.69 (Q3) 5.5.35
17.11.113 (Q4) 6.5.41

Hawthorn Hawks (available) v Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus)
3.3.21 (Q1) 1.4.10
7.8.50 (Q2) 1.11.17
12.9.81 (Q3) 4.12.36
20.13.133 (Q4) 9.13.67

Geelong Cats (available) v Western Bulldogs (on hiatus)
0.2.2 (Q1) 2.3.15
2.3.15 (Q2) 4.10.34
7.4.46 (Q3) 8.15.63
7.6.48 (Q4) 13.17.95

Port Adelaide Power (available) v Richmond Tigers (Philip)
4.2.26 (Q1) 3.3.21
7.8.50 (Q2) 6.6.42
12.12.84 (Q3) 11.8.74
16.20.116 (Q4) 11.9.75

[Tim]

Cats and Pies going backwards. Last 2 Premiers. Pies can easily miss our on finals now

[Val]

Today's results:

Brisbane Lions (on hiatus) v Sydney Swans (Anita)
5.1.31 (Q1) 1.3.9
6.3.39 (Q2) 7.4.46
7.7.49 (Q3) 9.10.64
11.13.79 (Q4) 11.11.77

Fremantle Dockers (available) v Melbourne Demons (on hiatus)
3.5.23 (Q1) 0.2.2
7.9.51 (Q2) 3.3.21
11.11.77 (Q3) 6.5.41
17.14.116 (Q4) 10.6.66

Carlton Blues (available) v North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve)
4.1.25 (Q1) 3.1.19
7.2.44 (Q2) 9.1.55
14.7.91 (Q3) 12.2.74
16.11.107 (Q4) 14.4.88

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Round 19 (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)

Duke on 7 (18)
SussexWelsh on 7 (23)
Val on 7 (25)
Anita on 6 (19)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 6 (21)
Tim on 6 (23)
Philip on 5 (32)
Suzy on 3 (5)

Charity donations are:
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$7.00 - Highest score (Hawks 133)
Suzy (Friends With Dignity) - A$7.00 (closest margin)
Duke (Centre For Eye Research Australia) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

Tim on 103 (549)
SussexWelsh on 103 (605)
Philip on 103 (718)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 101 (571)
Val on 101 (592)
Duke on 99 (498)
Anita on 89 (684)
Suzy on 63 (485)

Please check your scores!!! Well done Duke on continuing your good form. Could it get any tighter at the top???

[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
or https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/ladder

ROUND 20

Friday Jul 26
Carlton Blues v Port Adelaide Power (in Melbourne)

Saturday Jul 27
North Melbourne Kangaroos v Geelong Cats (in Tasmania)
Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions (on the Gold Coast)
St Kilda Saints v Essendon Bombers (in Melbourne)
Melbourne Demons v GWS Giants (in Melbourne)
Fremantle Dockers v West Coast Eagles (in Perth)

Sunday Jul 28
Collingwood Magpies v Richmond Tigers (in Melbourne)
Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs (in Sydney)
Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn Hawks (in Adelaide)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight THURSDAY Jul 25 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.30am FRIDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[Val]

Every team analysed after Round 19 in just three words.

ADELAIDE CROWS: The Keays game! (Ben Keays)

BRISBANE LIONS: Statement. They’re contenders.

CARLTON: Defence still troubling.

COLLINGWOOD: Need a miracle.

ESSENDON: Regression always wins.

FREMANTLE: How good’s Hayden? (Hayden Young)

GEELONG: Ground, Cats terrible. (Very muddy after rain)

GOLD COAST SUNS: Closer than looked.

GWS GIANTS: Flying? We’re unconvinced.

HAWTHORN: Cancel September plans?

MELBOURNE: Maybe recruit ruck?

NORTH MELBOURNE: More promising signs.

PORT ADELAIDE: Just bank points.

RICHMOND: Fight and fight.

ST KILDA: Better than 15th.

SYDNEY SWANS: Close games kryptonite?

WEST COAST EAGLES: Ugly. Derby miracle? (Next week's all-Perth game between Freo & Eagles)

[theDuke]

Oh wow, 2 in a row....that won't continue, have no fear! Thank you Val.

Buuuut...i'm now only 4 away from the 3 new leaders! I'm coming for ya!!! :)

[Tim]

Going to get tougher for Swans following yesterday's very brave performance losing 3 players to injuries before half time. Heywood bravely remained on the pitch on one leg and somehow managed a couple of goals. It was a huge performance in defeat but I suspect Rampe , Papley and Heywood will all miss a few weeks. Even Blakey came out of it with a sore shoulder. Swans have been fairly lucky with injuries so guess they got them all in one game.

[Val]

I didn't see any of the Swans/Lions game so didn't know about the injuries. Hope they are able to return soon. The Swans have an abundance of riches in player talent but you wouldn't want to lose any of those you've named. I had a busy weekend with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on Friday (Tchaikovsky's The Tempest & his Romeo & Juliet) - Spanish conductor Jaime Martin is a hoot and so informative. Then two plays on Saturday - A Streetcar Named Desire and Trophy Boys - both brilliant! Train journeys allow me to make progress on the 640 pages of Andrew O'Hagan's Caledonian Road - a library reserve with 32 people waiting for it - but I'm loving it!!!

[Tim]

Wow a wonderful weekend.

Victoria and I loved all the Tennessee Williams plays and saw many wonderful productions in London.

Think Papley and Rampe will be out for at least 3 weeks

[Sj]

ROUND 20

Carlton Blues +20

Geelong Cats
Brisbane Lions
Essendon Bombers
GWS Giants
Fremantle Dockers

Collingwood Magpies
Sydney Swans
Hawthorn Hawks

[Tim]

Papley looks like 6 weeks. Rampe probably 2 but Heywood is a chance for this weekend.
Big blow with Papley though as that would take him out until beginning of finals at least. McInnerney also out for several weeks too.
My tips this week
Carlton by 19
Cats
Lions
Bombers
Giants
Freo
Pies
Swans
Hawthorn
Writing this down made me realise just how many of these tips are for teams completely out of form. Yes the Pies Bombers and Swans but there you go. Suns have a chance against Lions at home

[Anita]

blues by 16
rois
suns
bombers
giants
dockers
pies
SWANS
hawks

[SussexWelsh]

.
.
Blues by 25
Cats
Lions
Saints
Giants
Dockers
Magpies
Bulldogs
Hawks

[Philip]

Carlton x 30
Geelong
Gold Coast
St Kilda
GWS
Fremantle
Collingwood
Sydney
Adelaide

[theDuke]

Round 20:

Blues - 10 pts
Cats
Suns
Saints
GWS
Dockers
Magpies
Swans
Hawks

[suzysunshine7]

A couple of underdogs still uncertain until the final punt and edit ...

Power by 7
Roos
SUNS
Saints
Demons
Eagles
Tigers
Dogs
Crows

Game on! ... and Good Luck Everyone! ;o>

[Val]

Anita wrote: "blues by 16
rois"

Hi Anita, I'm taking "rois" as "roos" as in North Melbourne Kangaroos. Hope this is what you meant. It seems closer than "Cats".

[Val]

Mine:

Blues x 9
Cats
Lions
Dons
Giants
Freo
Pies
Swans
Crows

[Val]

Tonight's result:

Carlton Blues (available) v Port Adelaide Power (available)
1.4.10 (Q1) 2.2.14
8.6.54 (Q2) 4.5.29
9.8.62 (Q3) 7.10.52
9.11.65 (Q4) 11.13.79

A gallant come-from-behind win for Port. They restricted Carlton to a mere 9 points after half-time! Once again it is Suzy who wins the closest margin pot - another $7.00 goes to Friends With Dignity. Well done!!

[Val]

Yesterday's results (apologies, it's been a busy weekend between the Puccini Gala, babysitting and the Olympics)

North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve) v Geelong Cats (available)
3.1.19 (Q1) 3.4.22
4.3.27 (Q2) 6.5.41
7.4.46 (Q3) 11.8.74
10.6.66 (Q4) 16.10.106

Gold Coast Suns (Suzy) v Brisbane Lions (on hiatus)
2.6.18 (Q1) 3.2.20
5.8.38 (Q2) 8.7.55
7.9.51 (Q3) 10.10.70
9.11.65 (Q4) 13.15.93

St Kilda Saints (Tim) v Essendon Bombers (Val)
5.1.31 (Q1) 2.3.15
7.2.44 (Q2) 5.5.35
14.4.88 (Q3) 6.7.43
17.6.108 (Q4) 8.7.55

Melbourne Demons (on hiatus) v GWS Giants (Duke)
5.5.35 (Q1) 1.2.8
6.7.43 (Q2) 6.4.40
8.9.57 (Q3) 9.6.60
12.11.83 (Q4) 13.7.85

Fremantle Dockers (available) v West Coast Eagles (Sussex)
3.0.18 (Q1) 5.1.31
7.3.45 (Q2) 9.4.58
12.8.80 (Q3) 9.5.59
17.8.110 (Q4) 11.9.75

[Val]

Today's results:

Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus) v Richmond Tigers (Philip)
6.2.38 (Q1) 2.2.14
9.5.59 (Q2) 5.4.34
13.8.86 (Q3) 6.9.45
14.9.93 (Q4) 9.13.67

Sydney Swans (Anita) v Western Bulldogs (on hiatus)
0.1.1 (Q1) 5.5.35
2.1.13 (Q2) 7.7.49
4.4.28 (Q3) 10.12.72
7.6.48 (Q4) 12.15.87

Adelaide Crows (on hiatus) v Hawthorn Hawks (available)
5.6.36 (Q1) 5.0.30
6.6.42 (Q2) 9.3.57
6.8.44 (Q3) 13.8.86
8.10.58 (Q4) 19.10.124

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Round 20 (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)

SussexWelsh on 8 (39)
Duke on 6 (24)
Tim on 6 (33)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 6 (34)
Val on 5 (23)
Philip on 5 (44)
Anita on 4 (30)
Suzy on 3 (7)

Charity donations are:
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$7.00 - Highest score (Hawks 124)
Suzy (Friends With Dignity) - A$7.00 (closest margin)
Sussex (Save The Bilby Fund) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

SussexWelsh on 111 (644)
Tim on 109 (582)
Philip on 108 (762)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 107 (605)
Val on 106 (615)
Duke on 105 (522)
Anita on 93 (714)
Suzy on 66 (492)

Please check your scores!!! By Sunday evening I'm not always thinking straight. Congratulations Sussex on getting eight right this round - it's rare for any of us to do as well. And he's now 2 games clear on the overall ladder - but it ain't over yet!

[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
or https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/ladder

ROUND 21

Friday Aug 2
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne Demons (in Melbourne)
West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns (in Perth)

Saturday Aug 3
North Melbourne Kangaroos v Richmond Tigers (in Melbourne)
Geelong Cats v Adelaide Crows (in Geelong)
Collingwood Magpies v Carlton Blues (in Melbourne)
Port Adelaide Power v Sydney Swans (in Adelaide)

Sunday Aug 4
GWS Giants v Hawthorn Hawks (in Sydney)
Essendon Bombers v Fremantle Dockers (in Melbourne)
St Kilda Saints v Brisbane Lions (in Melbourne)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight THURSDAY Aug 1 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.30am FRIDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[suzysunshine7]

YAYYY!!! ... Congratulations Sussex! ... x

[Sj]

ROUND 21
````````````````

Western Bulldogs + 21
Gold Coast Suns

North Melbourne Kangaroos
Geelong Cats
Carlton Blues
Port Adelaide Power

GWS Giants
Fremantle Dockers
Brisbane Lions

[Anita]

bulldogs by 18
eagles
roos
cats
blues
SWANS
hawks
bickers
lions
thanks for last week Val re'the rois.I wasn't well ,some nasty little bug I picked up,anyway back to work today.

[suzysunshine7]

Awww, I hope you feel much better now, Anita ... x

[Sj]

Anita wrote: "bulldogs by 18
eagles
roos
cats
blues
SWANS
hawks
bickers
`````````
Anita, I hope not too many 'bickers' among your littluns this week 😂"

[SussexWelsh]

.
.
Bulldogs by 22
Eagles
Kangaroos
Cats
Blues
Power
Giants
Dockers
Lions