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

[Philip]

Sydney x 12
Gold Coast
GWS
Collingwood
Geelong
Port Adelaide
Western
Hawthorn
West Coast

[Tim]

I do not think Swans capable of win with Fox and Chad Warner out. Warner's brother is the replacement and he is still very raw. Mexican is back from injury for Fox but he isn't in same class.
Essendons last home game I think and will want to go out on high
I am changing my tip to
Bombers by 21

[theDuke]

I don't have too much confidence for Sydney either. They only just got over the line against Collingwood in that brilliant nail biting finish...and they do have injury woes. That said...i don't have a lot of confidence in Essendon either! So, just cos i want to see that all Sydney final happen....going on faith in another tight one, plus a couple of possible upsets too:

Swans - 7
Suns
GWS
Lions
Crows
Saints
Dogs
Hawks
Blues

[SussexWelsh]

.
.
Swans by 5
Suns
Giants
Lions
Power
Cats
Bulldogs
Hawks
Eagles

[Val]

Suzy's tips:

Bombers by 7
Demons
Freo
Pies
Crows
Saints
North
Tigers
Blues

[Val]

My tips:

Swans x 16
Suns
Giants
Lions
Crows
Cats
Dogs
Hawks
Eagles

[Anita]

mine
late,sorry Val
SWANS by 14
suns
dockers
lions
power
cats
bulldogs
hawks
blues

[Val]

Tonight's result:

Essendon Bombers (Val) v Sydney Swans (Anita)
3.1.19 (Q1) 2.2.14
4.5.29 (Q2) 3.4.22
5.10.40 (Q3) 9.7.61
8.11.59 (Q4) 15.8.98

Not a great game but the Swans will have learned a lot to take in to the Finals. Essendon now bow out and they will be disappointed at not taking their chances, particularly in the first half. Steve was closest to the pin this week and earns $7.00 for Backpack Bed For Homeless. Nice work!

[Val]

Today's results:

Gold Coast Suns (Suzy) v Melbourne Demons (on hiatus)
3.2.20 (Q1) 3.2.20
7.5.47 (Q2) 8.5.53
8.6.54 (Q3) 11.5.71
9.9.63 (Q4) 18.9.117

GWS Giants (Duke) v Fremantle Dockers (available)
4.4.28 (Q1) 3.2.20
6.7.43 (Q2) 8.4.52
11.9.75 (Q3) 10.7.67
15.11.101 (Q4) 14.8.92

Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus) v Brisbane Lions (on hiatus)
2.4.16 (Q1) 6.4.40
5.6.36 (Q2) 6.5.41
7.8.50 (Q3) 9.10.64
11.13.79 (Q4) 11.12.78

Port Adelaide Power (available) v Adelaide Crows (on hiatus)
2.3.15 (Q1) 2.5.17
4.9.33 (Q2) 6.6.42
6.12.48 (Q3) 6.10.46
11.14.80 (Q4) 8.10.58

St Kilda Saints (Tim) v Geelong Cats (available)
0.3.3 (Q1) 3.2.20
3.6.24 (Q2) 9.3.57
10.10.70 (Q3) 10.4.64
16.11.107 (Q4) 14.5.89

A few upsets there and it's getting very close to determining the top 4. Brisbane will account for Essendon next week meaning the first week of Finals could see all games being played outside Victoria.

[Val]

Today's results:

Western Bulldogs (on hiatus) v North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve)
5.3.33 (Q1) 3.4.22
9.10.64 (Q2) 3.5.23
16.15.111 (Q3) 4.5.29
20.18.138 (Q4) 6.6.42

Hawthorn Hawks (available) v Richmond Tigers (Philip)
9.3.57 (Q1) 1.1.7
12.6.78 (Q2) 6.5.41
15.11.101 (Q3) 8.6.54
19.17.131 (Q4) 10.8.68

West Coast Eagles (Sussex) v Carlton Blues (available)
2.2.14 (Q1) 2.4.16
2.2.14 (Q2) 6.9.45
3.5.23 (Q3) 11.12.78
4.10.34 (Q4) 14.15.99

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Round 23 (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)

Philip on 6 (27)
Duke on 6 (32)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 5 (16)
Anita on 5 (25)
SussexWelsh on 5 (34)
Val on 4 (23)
Suzy on 4 (46)
Tim on 4 (60)

Charity donations are:
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$7.00 - Highest score (Bulldogs 138)
Steve (Backpack Bed For Homeless) - A$7.00 (closest margin)
Philip (Canteen) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

SussexWelsh on 127 (714)
Philip on 124 (823)
Duke on 122 (595)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 122 (670)
Tim on 121 (689)
Val on 120 (687)
Anita on 106 (774)
Suzy on 78 (606)

I hope I've got it right. Congrats to Philip as this week's winner and also to Duke for getting 6 in a week when we were mostly ordinary. Sussex looks as though he might be heading for a win at the end of the home & away games!

[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 24

Friday Aug 23
Melbourne Demons v Collingwood Magpies (in Melbourne)

Saturday Aug 24
Geelong Cats v West Coast Eagles (in Geelong)
Richmond Tigers v Gold Coast Suns (in Melbourne)
Hawthorn Hawks v North Melbourne Kangaroos (in Tasmania)
Brisbane Lions v Essendon Bombers (in Brisbane)
Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows (in Sydney)

Sunday Aug 25
Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants (in Melbourne)
Carlton Blues v St Kilda Saints (in Melbourne)
Fremantle Dockers v Port Adelaide Power (in Perth)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight THURSDAY Aug 22 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.30am FRIDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[Val]

Those last three games of Round 24 will decide places 6, 7 and 8 going into the Finals. Exciting stuff!

[Tim]

Going out a bit on a limb as so far behind now nothing to lose in trying to get a couple of long shots in such as the Tigers. Surely, they would love to farewell Martin with a famous victory however unlikely. Just 2 wins to date for the season, one being against the Swans and victory would give them an outside chance of overhauling the Kangaroos to avoid the wooden spoon.
Pies by 13
Cats (although this likely means the Swans play them in the Qualifying Final which is very tough, but you must expect that in finals)
Tigers
Hawks
Lions
Swans
Giants (I think they can win as it is outside Melbourne in Ballarat which is so odd for such a big game. If they lose, they could be overtaken by the Cats leaving an all-Sydney qualifier which no one in Sydney would want.)
Saints (nothing would surprise me where Carlton are concerned)
Freo....a very tight call.

[Anita]

right baby tomorrow night, so get it in tonight.
demons by 17
cats
tigers
hawks
lions
SWANS
bulldogs
blues
power
Val,Thankyou for taking my first game last week when I was a little late,usually I would have missed off the first but I knew that you'd know I would always go with the swans.

[Tim]

Anita you have so much faith in our Swans and clearly are so loyal. I only went against them so they would prove me wrong which is what happened. Just hope we can continue to improve into the Finals but concerned that so far there is little news of Papley's return.

[Philip]

Collingwood x 10
Geelong
Gold Coast
Hawthorn
Brisbane
Sydney
GWS
St Kilda
Port Adelaide

[Sj]

Collingwood Magpies +24

Geelong Cats
Gold Coast Suns
Hawthorn Hawks
Brisbane Lions
Sydney Swans

Western Bulldogs
Carlton Blues
Fremantle Dockers

[theDuke]

Round 23:

Magpies - 12pts
Cats
Tigers
Hawks
Lions
Swans
GWS - Should be a great tight match.
Saints
Dockers

[SussexWelsh]

.
.
Magpies by 4
Cats
Suns
Hawks
Lions
Swans
Giants
Saints
Power

[Val]

Suzy's tips:

Demons by 7
Eagles
Suns
North
Essendon
Crows
Dogs
Blues
Port

[Val]

Mine:

Pies x 21
Cats
Tigers
Hawks
Lions
Swans
Giants
Saints
Freo

Good luck everyone!!

[Val]

Well the heavens opened tonight and play was suspended during the final quarter because of lightning. Collingwood already had the game sewn up so the break in play made no difference. Even with a generous lead, their fans still boo the loudest.

Tonight's result:

Melbourne Demons (on hiatus) v Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus)
1.1.7 (Q1) 5.4.34
4.4.28 (Q2) 8.5.53
7.5.47 (Q3) 12.8.80
8.9.57 (Q4) 15.12.103

Steve continues his good form and takes out the $7.00 prize for closest margin. It will be going to Backpack Bed For Homeless.

[Val]

Today's results:

Geelong Cats (available) v West Coast Eagles (Sussex)
8.3.51 (Q1) 1.1.7
18.6.114 (Q2) 2.2.14
21.8.134 (Q3) 7.8.50
26.12.168 (Q4) 11.9.75

Richmond Tigers (Philip) v Gold Coast Suns (Suzy)
3.4.22 (Q1) 4.1.25
4.4.34 (Q2) 10.6.66
8.5.53 (Q3) 11.8.74
10.6.66 (Q4) 14.10.94

Hawthorn Hawks (available) v North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve)
4.4.28 (Q1) 1.1.7
12.9.81 (Q2) 4.2.26
16.10.106 (Q3) 6.4.40
26.14.170 (Q4) 7.4.46

Brisbane Lions (on hiatus) v Essendon Bombers (Val)
3.4.22 (Q1) 1.4.10
7.9.51 (Q2) 3.5.23
11.17.83 (Q3) 5.7.37
11.21.87 (Q4) 10.7.67

Sydney Swans (Anita) v Adelaide Crows (on hiatus)
7.4.46 (Q1) 6.3.39
13.6.84 (Q2) 7.5.47
17.10.112 (Q3) 9.9.63
18.13.121 (Q4) 13.12.90

Some big scores today! The Swans take out the minor Premiership and they, Port, the Cats and the Giants will all play at home in the first Finals round.

[Val]

Today's results:

Western Bulldogs (on hiatus) v GWS Giants (Duke)
1.2.8 (Q1) 3.1.19
7.7.49 (Q2) 5.2.32
9.10.64 (Q3) 8.5.53
14.14.98 (Q4) 9.7.61

Carlton Blues (available) v St Kilda Saints (Tim)
1.3.9 (Q1) 2.2.14
4.5.27 (Q2) 5.7.37
9.5.59 (Q3) 10.8.68
11.8.74 (Q4) 11.10.76

Fremantle Dockers (available) v Port Adelaide Power (available)
4.2.26 (Q1) 3.0.18
6.8.44 (Q2) 7.3.45
8.11.59 (Q3) 10.8.68
9.13.67 (Q4) 13.9.87

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Round 24 (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)

Philip on 8 (35)
SussexWelsh on 8 (41)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 7 (21)
Val on 6 (24)
Tim on 6 (32)
Duke on 6 (33)
Anita on 6 (62)
Suzy on 3 (52)

Charity donations are:
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$7.00 - Highest score (Hawks 170)
Steve (Backpack Bed For Homeless) - A$7.00 (closest margin)
Philip (Canteen) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

SussexWelsh on 135 (755)
Philip on 132 (858)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 129 (691)
Duke on 128 (628)
Tim on 127 (721)
Val on 126 (711)
Anita on 112 (836)
Suzy on 81 (658)

Congrats to this week's winners and to Sussex for finishing top at the end of the H & A season. I'll be back later with the financial wash-up.

[Val]

So here are the results of the 2024 home and away tipping:

1st: Sussex wins $35.00 for the Save The Bilby Fund
2nd: Philip wins $25.00 for Canteen
3rd: Steve wins $15.00 for Backpack Bed For Homeless

and the wooden spoon prize of $10.00 goes to Suzy and Friends With Dignity.

Great work you lot!!

There is a further award - Duke with $15.00 for his team's Jesse Hogan who won the Coleman Medal for most goals (69) scored this season.

Anita and Duke are the only tipsters who have a team left but everyone is welcome to tip as we have three weeks of Finals games plus the Grand Final to come, so still money to be won for your charities.

[Val]

There are no games next week - we get a week's rest before the Finals begin. Punters whose teams are still alive are Anita and Duke. But remember, all punters are still in the competition to pick winners and earn some cash for their charities. There are no prizes for closest margin or highest score, just $15.00 for the tipster who predicts the most wins with the lowest cumulative margins.

The AFL is yet to confirm dates, times and venues (I'm just making an educated guess) but the match-ups below are definitely right so feel free to post your tips any time up to MIDNIGHT Wednesday September 4th.

Qualifying and Elimination Finals:
(Qualifying: loser gets a second chance)
(Elimination: loser is out of the Finals)

This time I'd like you to choose the winning team AND the margin for ALL FOUR GAMES. Scoring will be one point for every winner picked and a sliding table based on the margins predicted for each game. There will (hopefully) be one winning punter after all games have been played. $15.00 to your charity is up for grabs.

Thursday September 5

First Qualifying Final (1st hosts 4th):
Sydney Swans (Anita) v GWS Giants (Duke) in Sydney
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday September 6

First Elimination Final (5th hosts 8th):
Brisbane Lions (on hiatus) v Carlton Blues (available) in Brisbane

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday September 7

Second Elimination Final (6th hosts 7th):
Western Bulldogs (on hiatus) v Hawthorn Hawks (available) in Melbourne

Second Qualifying Final (2nd hosts 3rd):
Port Adelaide Power (available) v Geelong Cats (available) in Adelaide
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Tim]

Well, the Melbourne mafia strike again and set the Sydney derby for Saturday afternoon. Not only non-prime time but also the loser has a much shorter prep time for the next match.

A repeat of exactly what happened in 2016 when both teams finished 1st and 4th as this year but in that instance the authorities deemed it better to remove the Swans from their home ground with great atmosphere to the soulless Olympic stadium. The crowd was just 12000 above the SCG capacity and was attended by me. The Swans were lost, and the Giants easily won. The Swans however came back to get to the Grand Final and the Giants lost the Prelim to the Bulldogs in one of the best ever finals match. The Bulldogs having finished 7th (see the parallel to this season when they were 6th) went onto win and as far as I recall a very rare example of a team finishing out of the top 4 going on to win. I hope as a Swans fan, history does not continue to repeat itself, but I fear the Swans lack the consistency required to take out the flag. .

[Tim]

Well, the Melbourne mafia strike again and set the Sydney derby for Saturday afternoon. Not only non-prime time but also the loser has a much shorter prep time for the next match.

A repeat of exactly what happened in 2016 when both teams finished 1st and 4th as this year but in that instance the authorities deemed it better to remove the Swans from their home ground with great atmosphere to the soulless Olympic stadium. The crowd was just 12000 above the SCG capacity and was attended by me. The Swans were lost, and the Giants easily won. The Swans however came back to get to the Grand Final and the Giants lost the Prelim to the Bulldogs in one of the best ever finals match. The Bulldogs having finished 7th (see the parallel to this season when they were 6th) went onto win and as far as I recall a very rare example of a team finishing out of the top 4 going on to win. I hope as a Swans fan, history does not continue to repeat itself, but I fear the Swans lack the consistency required to take out the flag. .

[Val]

As Tim has alluded to, the times/dates of the Finals has been "tweaked" by the AFL and now reads as follows:

Thursday September 5

Second Qualifying Final (2nd hosts 3rd):
Port Adelaide Power (available) v Geelong Cats (available) in Adelaide at 7.40pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday September 6

Second Elimination Final (6th hosts 7th):
Western Bulldogs (on hiatus) v Hawthorn Hawks (available) in Melbourne at 7.40pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday September 7

First Qualifying Final (1st hosts 4th):
Sydney Swans (Anita) v GWS Giants (Duke) in Sydney at 3.20pm

First Elimination Final (5th hosts 8th):
Brisbane Lions (on hiatus) v Carlton Blues (available) in Brisbane at 7.30pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who knows what the logic is? There is too much room for this manipulation - all designed for TV audiences rather than fans attending. I'm almost a conspiracy theorist now in regards to umpiring. Sunday night's game looked as though it was "tailored" to see Carlton get through. I was interested too in Garry Lyon's asking how the umpires would rule on dissent in the Finals. At the start of the season you just had to throw your arms up to get a free played against you but on Friday night Dayne Zorko told the umpire to watch the replay and told him he was having a very bad night. No consequence. I don't know who's going to win the flag but I would say the Giants and Bulldogs are in form (despite Sunday's result). The Swans have got to hope they can field their best 22 and not let the opposition get away to a good start. The Giants are strong at both ends of the ground, the Swans forward line can leave your heart in your mouth. And, of course, the wildcard Hawks have nothing to lose. All I know is that I've been roped in to babysit on Friday night while Mum & Dad go to watch their beloved Doggies. And I won't see the Swans/Giants game because I'll be at "Carousel".

[Tim]

I will be a bundle of nerves especially as the loser will likely get the Lions.
Just think they wanted the Victorian match at peak time for tv and damn the fact it is 1 against 4 just because they are 2 Sydney teams.
That match is always on the Thursday evening and in this case being a local derby would have been ok with the fans.
It just makes no sense.

[Tim]

Congratulations to Sussex on your well-earned victory. You may inspire those Eagles for next season!

[SussexWelsh]

Tim wrote: "Congratulations to Sussex on your well-earned victory. You may inspire those Eagles for next season!"

Cheers Tim, I hope you're right. The recent seasons have been far too miserable.

[Val]

Tim - I wonder if you watched Monday night's episode of Footy Classified? On the Caro's Arrow segment, Caroline Wilson gave the AFL (and Andrew Dillon) a real serve for scheduling the Swans/Giants game on Saturday afternoon.

[Anita]

mine
port by 17
hawks by 17
SWANS by 17
Lions by 17
well done Sussex for heading the table.
Come on the swans

[Tim]

No I didn't see that. Nice a Melbourne based journalist is being so fair. Thank you for letting me know.
I think it is so unfortunate. Not sure if you have attended a game at the SCG. It is a great venue and I love the fact it is a shortish stroll from my favourite Sydney pub, The Lord Dudley. A classic British style pub that looks as if it has just been transported from Surrey and serves real British Beer from a handpump.
My main problem with the timing is that at 3 20pm on a spring afternoon if it is sunny half the ground is bathed in low sunlight making it nigh on impossible to watch the game until the 4th quarter. Forget it if you are in the O'Reilly stand which is where we sat for 8 seasons of my membership. Other grounds do have this problem but the SCG is particularly bad.
Enjoy Carousel.
Thank you so much Val you run a wonderful and generous competition and always adding such knowledgeable comments on the history of the game in a totally impartial way. I do not mean to be down about Melbourne as I love the city for its art, culture and people but living there you do realise that it is so self centred not really caring about outside teams despite it was the AFL that really pushed for expansion to make a national sport and end the dominance of the VFL. Even here in Brisbane the Swans are quite popular.

[Tim]

By the way Caroline Wilson is always impartial and does not shigh away from speaking out.

[Tim]

I also agree strongly with your comment on the Hawks. Not sure what price you could have got halfway through the season but they are a genuine chance if they get by the Bulldogs.

[Tim]

How entitled are SCG members who are complaining about having to pay all of $20 for a reserved finals seat as the finals are not included in the membership package. Most of these members are not even interested in AFL as is evidenced by the number of tickets sold to non-members for many AFL matches. Not only do they get priority booking but a huge saving on cost.
There are always arguments about ticket allocation at Finals every year and there must be a better way. Oh, that's right there is... by paying an additional $100 on your membership which not only gives you a guaranteed Grand Final ticket should the Swans make it but priority booking for other Finals. No idea if other teams have such schemes but it works for me with the Swans. I know it sounds a lot and if they do not make Finals you lose but... the cost of memberships are really well priced so cannot complain. Go and look up the cost of a season ticket for Spurs and you will see what I mean. I think Sussex would agree.
Just to confirm I had a whole day to book my ticket for the Sydney derby which I decided not to do as an expensive trip with flights and overnight stay and I find my armchair and bar very comfortable plus saving cents in hope of a GF.

[Sj]

Port Adelaide Power +20
Western Bulldogs +5
Sydney Swans(Anita) +10
Brisbane Lions +30

[Sj]

Well played Sussex 👍 ...became uncatchable towards the end there

[Tim]

Very hard to be impartial now and some tight games but here goes

Port by 10
Hawthorn by 5
Swans by 15
Lions by 28

[SussexWelsh]

Sj wrote: "Well played Sussex 👍 ...became uncatchable towards the end there"

Cheers, Sj :-)

[SussexWelsh]

.
.
Power by 11
Hawks by 11
Swans by 16
Lions by 33

[Tim]

Very close to my predictions Sussex. Hopefully Swannies have Papley and McInnerney back Saturday. Would be full strength then.
For those interested in stat's (and hopefully this one will be broken) GWS are 3 0 up in the finals matches the Sydney teams have played to date. Last was that defeat in Tasmania by a point I believe that ended with Toby Greene receiving a 5 or 6 match ban at the start of the following season for walking towards the umpire at three quarter time and only just getting out of the way at last moment. Very threatening.

[Philip]

Congrats Sussex on winning the league.

Port Adelaide x 20
Hawthorn x 5
Sydney x 20
Brisbane x 30

[Val]

Another $15 has been added to the pool to be re-distributed at the end of the season - Ollie Dempsey of Geelong won the award for Rising Star (best first year player).

[theDuke]

Well done Sussex.

Port - 12
Dogs - 7
Swans- 5
Lions - 35

[Val]

Suzy's tips:

Cats by 7
Dogs by 7
Giants by 7
Blues by 7