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

[Anita]

Dockers
Thanks SJ.
Yes back to work,I have an interview tomorrow,I need a few days a week while my boss in on maternity leave,a lady needs someone for 8months.

[Tim]

Sorry late this week. Swans were terrible last week. Cannot give opponents 40 point start every week and finally with major players out it caught up with them. When did start playing held their own but too late by then against a useful Bulldogs team. Still missing key players especially in back and Papley. At least Rowbottom due back this week. I was going to tip against them but just cannot di it although have little faith in Adelaide.
Tips a bit off charts as well but here goes
Dogs by 21
Gold Coast to win away
North Melbourne
Cats
Blues
Swans
Hawthorn
Freo
Lions

[Philip]

Western x 30
Gold Coast
North Melbourne
Geelong
Carlton
Port Adelaide
Hawthorn
Essendon
Brisbane

[theDuke]

R21:

Bulldogs - 13pts
Suns
North
Cats
Magpies
Port
GWS
Freo
Lions

[Val]

For Suzy

Demons by 7
Eagles
Tigers
Crows
Magpies
Swans
Hawks
Essendon
Saints

[Val]

Mine:

Dogs x 15
Eagles
North
Cats
Blues
Port
Giants
Freo
Lions

[Val]

The early game tonight:

Western Bulldogs (on hiatus) v Melbourne Demons (on hiatus)
4.7.31 (Q1) 1.1.7
6.13.49 (Q2) 5.1.31
11.17.83 (Q3) 7.3.45
15.20.110 (Q4) 9.5.59

An easy win for the Dogs - it was just a question of by how much and Philip guessed the closest. He wins $7.00 for Canteen. Congratulations!

And the game just finished?

West Coast Eagles (Sussex) v Gold Coast Suns (Suzy)
2.2.14 (Q1) 3.3.21
6.2.38 (Q2) 8.7.55
11.4.70 (Q3) 12.7.79
15.7.97 (Q4) 13.9.87

[suzysunshine7]

Oh Squirrels! ... I can't believe that I remembered this all the way up to teatime last night and then somehow completely forgot all about it until just now! ... sorry Val and thank you for posting my punt ... x x x

[suzysunshine7]

YAYYY!!! - Congratulations Philip!!! ... x

[Tim]

Gold Coast proved they cannot win away. Well done Eagles

[theDuke]

What the heck has happened to Sydney??!!

[Tim]

They are over. It all goes back to one incident and that was the suspension of Issac Heaney. Totally unwarranted but they have not been the same since. It is the Melbourne AFL Mafia getting rid of a non Victorian Brownlow medal contender. Heaney has just not been the same player since and the rest of the team are struggling. Missing Papley and Rampe and the front 2 have totally misfired.
I just cannot see them getting back to where they were. Tough game next week as well against the Pies.

[theDuke]

That's the danger of of putting the responsibility on the shoulders of one player maybe.....but that said, Sydney has heaps of talent in their club. I couldn't believe what i was witnessing today. I thought it was poor for them in last week's game against a much improved and rising Bulldogs outfit, but against Port today, that was just shocking! Thier bubble has well and truly burst.

In the other game....fantastic final quarter run in the Pies v Blues game....i have no fingernails left!

[Tim]

The Swans were a team not relying on one player but mainly very young. Heeney was the driving force of these players but they have all lost their way and confidence.
Somehow Longmire has to get that back and quickly or else they will not finish top 4.
The front 2 of Amartey and McDonald have not performed for many weeks. Without Papley they are missing the one player who could get them firing but he is out for a few more weeks. It is heartbreaking to see how quickly this has happened.

[Tim]

Duke you are right about the other game. I turned over to watch and what an end with a failed kick to win it.

[theDuke]

Tim wrote: "The Swans were a team not relying on one player but mainly very young. Heeney was the driving force of these players but they have all lost their way and confidence.
Somehow Longmire has to get th..."

I think they have already lost the minor premiership Tim. Brisbane is the team to beat now, with Fremantle & Port following closely behind. Maybe even the plucky Bulldogs or the red hot young Hawks might be in with a chance too.

Carlton, Melbourne, Sydney & Bombers are all on the slide.

[Val]

Apologies for arriving late once again. Saturday was a similar write-off to last week - a long lunch with friends I haven't seen in ages, babysitting, plus the Olympics. I haven't seen much footy at all this weekend but will have to catch up on some get-out-of-jail final quarters - the Giants and the Bombers.

Yesterday's results:

North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve) v Richmond Tigers (Philip)
2.2.14 (Q1) 3.4.22
7.3.45 (Q2) 6.10.46
12.6.78 (Q3) 8.12.60
14.6.90 (Q4) 10.17.77

Geelong Cats (available) v Adelaide Crows (on hiatus)
3.4.22 (Q1) 2.2.14
7.5.47 (Q2) 6.3.39
10.8.68 (Q3) 11.5.71
13.12.90 (Q4) 13.7.85

Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus) v Carlton Blues (available)
2.2.14 (Q1) 1.8.14
6.6.42 (Q2) 3.11.29
11.9.75 (Q3) 6.14.50
12.12.84 (Q4) 11.15.81

Port Adelaide Power (available) v Sydney Swans (Anita)
7.3.45 (Q1) 0.0.0
13.8.86 (Q2) 1.3.9
17.9.111 (Q3) 3.4.22
22.16.148 (Q4) 5.6.36

[Val]

Today's results:

GWS Giants (Duke) v Hawthorn Hawks (available)
1.6.12 (Q1) 4.3.27
3.9.27 (Q2) 7.5.47
5.11.41 (Q3) 10.9.69
12.12.84 (Q4) 12.10.82

Essendon Bombers (Val) v Fremantle Dockers (available)
5.4.34 (Q1) 4.1.25
6.6.42 (Q2) 9.1.55
8.9.57 (Q3) 12.4.76
13.12.90 (Q4) 14.5.89

St Kilda Saints (Tim) v Brisbane Lions (on hiatus)
1.3.9 (Q1) 4.0.24
1.4.10 (Q2) 9.3.57
3.7.25 (Q3) 13.6.84
5.9.39 (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 7 (29)
Val on 7 (36)
Duke on 7 (38)
Philip on 6 (21)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 6 (30)
Anita on 5 (33)
Tim on 4 (30)
Suzy on 3 (58)

Charity donations are:
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$7.00 - Highest score (Port 148)
Philip (Canteen) - A$7.00 (closest margin)
Sussex (Save The Bilby Fund) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

SussexWelsh on 118 (673)
Philip on 114 (783)
Tim on 113 (612)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 113 (635)
Val on 113 (651)
Duke on 112 (560)
Anita on 98 (747)
Suzy on 69 (550)

Please check your scores!!! Well done Sussex - 4 points out in front is a handy buffer!!

[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 22

Friday Aug 9
Sydney Swans v Collingwood Magpies (in Sydney)

Saturday Aug 10
Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants (in Brisbane)
North Melbourne Kangaroos v West Coast Eagles (in Tasmania)
Fremantle Dockers v Geelong Cats (in Perth)
Essendon Bombers v Gold Coast Suns (in Melbourne)
Melbourne Demons v Port Adelaide Power (in Melbourne)

Sunday Aug 11
Carlton Blues v Hawthorn Hawks (in Melbourne)
Richmond Tigers v St Kilda Saints (in Melbourne)
Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs (in Adelaide)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight THURSDAY Aug 8 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.30am FRIDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[Tim]

The Swans were so bad injuries just cannot be an excuse. The team looked so low it is just unimaginable. I can no longer tip them this week and that alone might get them back up and running. Otherwise, they will really not make top 4.

Pies by 14
Lions
North Melbourne
Cats
Port
Bombers
Hawthorn
St Kilda
Bulldogs

[Sj]

Sydney Swans +22

Brisbane Lions
North Melbourne Kangaroos
Fremantle Dockers
Essendon Bombers
Port Adelaide Power

Hawthorn Hawks
St Kilda Saints
Western Bulldogs

[Tim]

Thanks Sj I need someone with some confidence in the Swans.

[Sj]

LOL Tim, "Come on you Swannies!🦢"....tho it was more to do with my lack of confidence in Collingwood 🤣

[Anita]

SWANS by 5
lions
roos
dockers
bombers
port
blues
tigers
crows
Come on Swans.

[SussexWelsh]

.
.
Swans by 10
Lions
Kangaroos
Dockers
Bombers
Power
Hawks
Saints
Bulldogs

[theDuke]

Okay then....i'm going to give the poorly Swans one last chance. They had a couple days rest, maybe this will help? And as SJ says, Collingwood ain't that hot! Predicting a tight one though, so:

Round 22:

Swans - 6
Lions (I will be overjoyed if my boys get the win, but unlikely)
Roos
Freo
Bombers (there's still hope for them yet!)
Port
Hawks
Saints
Dogs

[Philip]

Collingwood x 10
Brisbane
North Melbourne
Geelong
Essendon
Port Adelaide
Hawthorn
St KIlda
Western

[Val]

I'm taking the liberty of guessing Suzy's tips this week:

Pies by 7
Giants
Eagles
Cats
Suns
Demons
Blues
Tigers
Crows

[Val]

Mine:

Swans x 16
Lions
North
Freo
Dons
Port
Blues
Saints
Dogs

[theDuke]

Oh what a finish! Where did THAT come from??!!

[Val]

I doubt Tim has any fingernails left. Talk about get out of jail. With 15 minutes to go you would have thought the Pies had it all wrapped up.

Tonight's resultS:

Sydney Swans (Anita) v Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus)
3.3.21 (Q1) 5.4.34
6.5.41 (Q2) 6.8.44
8.9.57 (Q3) 11.12.78
13.11.89 (Q4) 12.14.86

All credit to Sydney and especially to Isaac Heeney, although Warner also did his bit. Early on I was thinking how much they were missing Papley, and although Collingwood was missing De Goey, they were bolstered by Dan McStay. Well done Swannies and well done Anita who wins another $7.00 for The Mirabel Foundation.

[Tim]

It was my wife's birthday so we were out for dinner after a day's trip whale watching which was incredible.
Watched match when got homeabout 10 30. Had more or less given up but something told me to stick with it. I knew we were playing better and then they exploded thanks to Heeney and Warner. Incredible finish and most importantly defended well in last 3 minutes once got lead. All those 1and 2 point defeats kept coming back to haunt me and I am sure Longmire. The coaches box was something to behold at the final siren and my bid to help by typing the Pies paid off.
Your Bombers next week Val. I need to recover before going through that.

[Tim]

Tipping the Pies that would have been.
Heeney finally appeared to have put his suspension behind him and his post match interview saw him back to his normal bubbly self.

[theDuke]

Well...it's one of those weeks again, isn't it?!

Some surprising results there...but over the moon for my boys..never thought they could beat Brisbane at the notorious Gabba. Suzy is looking good for this round!

[Tim]

They looked very good. After first quarter it was just a matter of time before they took the lead. Really think anyone who makes finals has a chance this season.

[Val]

I was at a three-year old's birthday for much of yesterday afternoon and evening so didn't see much footy apart from the dismal performance of my Bombers. Couldn't buy a goal! They should have had the game wrapped up by three quarter time; instead they squandered their many chances. They really don't belong in the Finals.

Yesterday's results:

Brisbane Lions (on hiatus) v GWS Giants (Duke)
4.7.31 (Q1) 0.1.1
6.8.44 (Q2) 5.3.33
7.12.54 (Q3) 7.4.46
8.16.64 (Q4) 13.4.82

North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve) v West Coast Eagles (Sussex)
4.2.26 (Q1) 3.3.21
7.6.48 (Q2) 3.8.26
10.10.70 (Q3) 8.9.57
14.13.97 (Q4) 15.12.102

Fremantle Dockers (available) v Geelong Cats (available)
2.1.13 (Q1) 4.2.26
5.4.34 (Q2) 6.4.40
8.7.55 (Q3) 7.9.51
9.8.62 (Q4) 10.13.73

Essendon Bombers (Val) v Gold Coast Suns (Suzy)
4.2.26 (Q1) 4.3.27
9.4.58 (Q2) 7.5.47
11.5.71 (Q3) 11.9.75
12.14.86 (Q4) 13.9.87

Melbourne Demons (on hiatus) v Port Adelaide Power (available)
2.3.15 (Q1) 2.4.16
4.5.29 (Q2) 3.8.26
6.5.41 (Q3) 5.8.38
7.9.51 (Q4) 7.11.53

We are all sitting on 2 from 6 apart from Suzy who's scored 4 to date.

[Val]

Today's results:

Carlton Blues (available) v Hawthorn Hawks (available)
3.3.21 (Q1) 3.5.23
3.6.24 (Q2) 8.9.57
4.7.31 (Q3) 12.14.86
5.8.38 (Q4) 16.16.112

Richmond Tigers (Philip) v St Kilda Saints (Tim)
3.1.19 (Q1) 4.1.25
5.2.32 (Q2) 7.4.46
7.5.47 (Q3) 11.5.71
7.9.51 (Q4) 15.9.99

Adelaide Crows (on hiatus) v Western Bulldogs (on hiatus)
5.2.32 (Q1) 1.4.10
9.6.60 (Q2) 4.10.34
14.7.91 (Q3) 6.14.50
17.9.111 (Q4) 9.18.72

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Round 22 (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)

Suzy on 5 (10)
Duke on 4 (3)
SussexWelsh on 4 (7)
Philip on 4 (13)
Tim on 4 (17)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 4 (19)
Anita on 3 (2)
Val on 3 (13)

Charity donations are:
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$7.00 - Highest score (Hawks 112)
Anita (The Mirabel Foundation) - A$7.00 (closest margin)
Suzy (Friends With Dignity) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

SussexWelsh on 122 (680)
Philip on 118 (796)
Tim on 117 (629)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 117 (654)
Duke on 116 (563)
Val on 116 (664)
Anita on 101 (749)
Suzy on 74 (560)

Please check your scores!!! Congratulations once again to Suzy - underdogs don't always know they're underdogs! Meanwhile, with two rounds to go, Sussex is looking comfortable in the top spot. Can he hold his nerve?

[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 23

Friday Aug 16
Essendon Bombers v Sydney Swans (in Melbourne)

Saturday Aug 17
Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne Demons (on the Gold Coast)
GWS Giants v Fremantle Dockers (in Sydney)
Collingwood Magpies v Brisbane Lions (in Melbourne)
Port Adelaide Power v Adelaide Crows (in Adelaide)
St Kilda Saints v Geelong Cats (in Melbourne)

Sunday Aug 18
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne Kangaroos
Hawthorn Hawks v Richmond Tigers (in Melbourne)
West Coast Eagles v Carlton Blues (in Perth)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight THURSDAY Aug 15 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.30am FRIDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[Anita]

thanks Val.Well done Suzy.

[Sj]

Sydney Swans +23

Gold Coast Suns
GWS Giants
Brisbane Lions
Port Adelaide Power
Geelong Cats

Western Bulldogs
Hawthorn Hawks
West Coast Eagles

[Tim]

I still have little faith in the Swans but cannot bring myself to tip against them 2 weeks running, sorry Val
Swans by 15
Gold Coast
Giants
Lions
Cats
Port
Bulldogs
Hawthorn
Eagles

[Tim]

The Sydney Morning Herald was talking about the possibility of an all-Sydney Final yesterday which would be fantastic, but optimistic I believe, although if they can finish top 2, they could have all home finals until going to the MCG for the Grand Final. On paper Swans have easier games but that means little at this end of the season. The Giants have 2 massive games, but I think they will stand up and win them both.

[theDuke]

I definitely think GWS can beat Fremantle....but the Bulldogs, I'm not so sure. Bulldogs can be brilliant one game, and drop off in the next one. But since GWS have now become the masters of the late comebacks, as it was with Collingwood of the last season, anything is possible. I'd love to see an all Sydney final. Tim Watson, formerly of Essendon, now broadcaster, stated that right at the beginning of the season.

[Tim]

Let's both keep fingers crossed. It would blow Melburnian minds if it did happen.

The article was saying how impossible this would have felt in 1982 when South Melbourne were sent to Sydney as the Swans and again in 2012 at the birth of the Giants.

The amazing thing to me is the level of local support the Swans still receive from the old South Melbourne supporters, and this must be passed down through the generations. I have been to matches, particularly at Marvel when Swans fans have outnumbered the home team.

[Val]

A good friend of mine is a died-in-the-wool Swans supporter, and like you say, from generations past, although they were always a northern suburbs family. And another friend has a family divided between Swans and Hawks supporters so they always hope for a Hawthorn/Sydney game in Melbourne so everyone can go.

I would love to see a Swans/Giants Grand Final - two teams packed with talent who play an exciting brand of football. Only Hawthorn currently play in similar style but they might be overawed to get to the big one so soon.

[Tim]

Very kind and generous thoughts.
One quick question. Now I have seen the Swans injury list extended so that both Chad Warner and Robbie Fox are out can I change my prediction? They are the heart of the team and missing Papley as well I just cannot see them being competitive. We were lucky with injuries for most of the season but that is haunting us now at the crucial time.

[Val]

Of course you can change your tip if you want. Chad Warner is a big out but wise of the Swans to protect him in this game and hope he will be right for Round 24. I'd be surprised if the Swans, no matter how depleted, can't hold off Essendon.

[Val]

I just hope that Essendon pull their heads in and don't make it a game of niggles. The winner should know they won it fair and square relying on ability, not dirty tactics.