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

[Tim]

GWS found out by missing a few key players but then the Blues were as well.
I am concerned about the Swans tomorrow but we will see.

[Val]

Today's results:

Sydney Swans (Anita) v Gold Coast Suns (Suzy)
5.3.33 (Q1) 1.2.8
5.4.34 (Q2) 3.5.23
12.8.80 (Q3) 5.7.37
17.8.110 (Q4) 8.9.57

North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve) v Hawthorn Hawks (available)
2.2.14 (Q1) 3.3.21
5.5.35 (Q2) 11.6.72
8.6.54 (Q3) 14.8.92
10.8.68 (Q4) 17.11.113

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Round 6 (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 6 (53)
Duke on 4 (74)
Val on 3 (65)
Tim on 3 (68)
Anita on 3 (78)
SussexWelsh on 3 (80)
Philip on 3 (90)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 2 (63)

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

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

Tim on 36 (177)
SussexWelsh on 36 (212)
Val on 35 (209)
Duke on 31 (174)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 30 (211)
Philip on 30 (280)
Anita on 25 (265)
Suzy on 22 (152)

Do please check your scores!!! In a pretty ordinary round for all of us (bar Suzy), every point counts. And in a year where form is very hard to gauge, Suzy is romping away with the charity donations!

[Val]

N.B. BEWARE!!! THERE'S A WEDNESDAY NIGHT GAME THIS COMING WEEK!!! PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR TIPS EARLY!!!

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 7

Wednesday April 24
Richmond Tigers v Melbourne Demons (in Melbourne)

Thursday April 25
Essendon Bombers v Collingwood Magpies (in Melbourne)
GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions (in Canberra)

Friday April 26
Port Adelaide Power v St Kilda Saints (in Adelaide)

Saturday April 27
North Melbourne Kangaroos v Adelaide Crows (in Tasmania)
Geelong Cats v Carlton Blues (in Melbourne)
Fremantle Dockers v Western Bulldogs (in Perth)

Sunday April 28
Gold Coast Suns v West Coast Eagles (on the Gold Coast)
Hawthorn Hawks v Sydney Swans (in Melbourne)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight TUESDAY Apr 23 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.15am WEDNESDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[Sj]

ROUND 7

Melbourne Demons + 32

Collingwood Magpies
GWS Giants

Port Adelaide Power
Adelaide Crows
Carlton Blues
Fremantle Dockers

Gold Coast Suns
Sydney Swans

[Tim]

Not a great week last week! Must do better so here goes
Demons by 24
Bombers...I have faith Val and should be nearly 100000 to cheer them on
Lions... may revisit if Toby Greene wins his one match appeal
Port
Crows... but in Hobart North may get up
Blues... very close but as at the MCG they get my vote
Dockers.... only because it is in Perth
Suns... very different prospect from one watched yesterday when they are at home
Swans...hopefully will not let me down against a side at the bottom at the MCG like they did against the Tigers on their last visit there.

[theDuke]

Bar the first week, i have so far managed a very average 50% score on pretty much every round! I think the highest I've managed is 5....a very unpredictable season thus far.....and round 7 is no easier to tip either. Quite a few games there that could go either way. From memory, i don't think GWS has a good track record against Brisbane...but the way the Lions are playing at the moment...who knows how that game will turn out. Carlton v Geelong ought to be cracker of a match though.

[Tim]

Blues Cats match will be a cracker but it is a shame for the Cats to lose home advantage and move it to the MCG because money talks. Especially a shame as their ground has been improved but they somehow did not increase capacity by much if any. Cats very difficult to beat at their home not only because crowd is so vocal and on top of the pitch but the shape of their ground which is unique.

[Val]

And without Tom Stewart in defence for the Cats! He's a big "out".

[Val]

I can't find the usual 3-word summary but this is a longer Round 6 wrap-up if anyone's interested:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-...

[SussexWelsh]

For those concerned, there's a midweek football punt to be done!!

[theDuke]

Val wrote: "I can't find the usual 3-word summary but this is a longer Round 6 wrap-up if anyone's interested:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-......"

It's up now:

ADELAIDE CROWS: Robbed. Tex, though...

BRISBANE LIONS: Fortress truly breached.

CARLTON: Walsh. Cripps. Unstoppable?

COLLINGWOOD: They look back.

ESSENDON: Deserved to win.

FREMANTLE: Just utterly unacceptable.

GEELONG: Another Scott masterclass.

GOLD COAST SUNS: Still hate flights.

GWS GIANTS: Due a loss.

HAWTHORN: See? They’re... OK.

MELBOURNE: Had the bye.

NORTH MELBOURNE: 18th by far.

PORT ADELAIDE: Contender? No proof.

RICHMOND: Had the bye.

ST KILDA: Un-Saints-like.

SYDNEY SWANS: That’s much better.

WEST COAST EAGLES: Harley is God.

WESTERN BULLDOGS: Brilliant. Now again.

[Sj]

SussexWelsh wrote: "For those concerned, there's a midweek football punt to be done!!"
Cheers Sussex 👍

[Philip]

Melbourne x 40
Collingwood
GWS
Port Adelaide
Adelaide
Geelong
Fremantle
West Coast
Sydney

[Anita]

mine
demons by 15
magpies
giants
power
roos
blues
bulldogs
eagleS
SWANS

[theDuke]

Round 7:

Melbourne - 26pts
Collingwood
GWS (No Toby Greene, but Jesse Hogan has been cleared, weirdly!)
Port Adelaide
North Melbourne
Carlton (Geelong's unbeaten streak ends here!)
Western
Gold Coast
Sydney

[SussexWelsh]

Demons by 22
Magpies
Giants
Power
Crows
Cats
Dockers
Suns
Swans

[Val]

Suzy's tips:

Tigers x 7
Essendon
Lions
Saints
North
Cats
Dogs
Eagles
Hawks

[Val]

Mine:

Dees x 17 (you never know which Richmond is going to show up)
Pies (looking ominous and Essendon's defence is still suspect)
Giants (I'm trusting the Canberra cold will affect the Lions more than GWS)
Port (will bounce back at home and Saints were dismal last week)
Crows (while I think North will put up a better showing than last week, the Crows need a win and will still be smarting from their 3 point loss to Essendon last week)
Cats (taking a chance here as the Blues are in rare form despite injuries, but I'm hoping the Cats' experience and stronger bodies will prevail)
Dogs (hardest game of the round [for me] but I'm hoping the Dogs can win a long way from home)
Suns (another tricky one but if Harley Reid doesn't play, I'm banking on the Suns returning to their early form)
Swans (you have to go for the more experienced, and talented, side. I hope both teams celebrate Buddy's attendance)

[Val]

Tonight's result:

Richmond Tigers (Philip) v Melbourne Demons (on hiatus)
1.3.9 (Q1) 2.3.15
3.6.24 (Q2) 3.5.23
4.8.32 (Q3) 8.7.55
5.12.42 (Q4) 13.7.85

A very uninspiring game with both sides making amateur errors. It was quite painful to watch. Well done Philip who was closest to the pin this week - $7.00 set aside for Canteen.

[SussexWelsh]

Lez would have nailed that!! :-)

[Val]

😆

[Val]

Today's result:

Essendon Bombers (Val) v Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus)
6.1.37 (Q1) 2.6.18
7.6.48 (Q2) 6.11.47
9.11.65 (Q3) 9.5.66
12.13.85 (Q4) 12.13.85

Probably a fair result in the end. Essendon lead by 27 points in the first quarter but you always knew Collingwood would fight back. Both teams had their chances and many easy attempts on goal were missed. Anyway it was a close game that went right down to the last seconds and I doubt anyone in the crowd of 93,644 left before the final siren.

[Val]

The spectacular mark taken by Jamie Elliott deserves special mention. It has to be the mark of the year. Elliott is 177cm tall (5ft 9 or 10ins), Ben Mackay is 202cm (6ft 7 or 8ins).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmk3s...

[Val]

Tonight's result:

GWS Giants (Duke) v Brisbane Lions (on hiatus)
4.3.27 (Q1) 2.4.16
8.4.52 (Q2) 6.8.44
13.6.84 (Q3) 6.10.46
17.11.113 (Q4) 8.11.59

Up until half time it looked as though this was going to be as tightly contested as the Dons/Pies game played earlier. Alas, it was not to be. The Giants (sans Toby Greene, Sam Taylor and Stephen Coniglio) wiped the floor with the Lions. Embarrassing!

[theDuke]

I had this game down as even stevens on account of GWS's absent key players..but gee that's embarrassing for Brisbane. They aren't the GF side of 2023 this season, despite the talent that they've got.

[Val]

GWS have blooded some good new players - keep an eye on Darcy Jones and Harvey Thomas (2 goals each). As one of the commentators said "Who needs Toby Greene?"

[Val]

Tonight's result:

Port Adelaide Power (available) v St Kilda Saints (Tim)
1.8.14 (Q1) 3.3.21
6.9.45 (Q2) 5.5.35
9.13.67 (Q3) 8.6.54
11.16.82 (Q4) 11.6.72

Another game that looked like being tightly contested at various points - especially as Port couldn't seem to kick straight and lost three important players to injury as the game wore on. It wasn't particularly edifying to watch but the Saints hung in there.

[theDuke]

Val wrote: "GWS have blooded some good new players - keep an eye on Darcy Jones and Harvey Thomas (2 goals each). As one of the commentators said "Who needs Toby Greene?""

The same could be said for Geelong! I had them missing the 8 this season, on account of the retirees after the last season. But they've got some fantastic young talent coming through, and former GWS forward Jeremy Cameron is on fire atm, playing his best performance, even at the maturing age of 31.

[Val]

Today's results:

North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve) v Adelaide Crows (on hiatus)
2.3.15 (Q1) 5.5.35
6.4.40 (Q2) 11.9.75
7.7.49 (Q3) 16.12.108
12.9.81 (Q4) 20.18.138

Geelong Cats (available) v Carlton Blues (available)
5.2.32 (Q1) 2.8.20
10.4.64 (Q2) 6.9.45
13.9.87 (Q3) 11.10.76
18.10.118 (Q4) 15.15.105

Fremantle Dockers (available) v Western Bulldogs (on hiatus)
4.4.28 (Q1) 3.2.20
7.6.48 (Q2) 7.3.45
10.9.69 (Q3) 9.10.64
14.11.95 (Q4) 10.11.71

So Geelong are now the only unbeaten teams for this season to date. Hopefully they will be able to cover Paddy Dangerfield's hamstring injury.

[Val]

Today's results:

Gold Coast Suns (Suzy) v West Coast Eagles (Sussex)
2.3.15 (Q1) 3.1.19
7.5.47 (Q2) 7.2.44
13.7.85 (Q3) 8.3.51
17.10.112 (Q4) 12.3.75

Hawthorn Hawks (available) v Sydney Swans (Anita)
2.2.14 (Q1) 6.3.39
3.6.24 (Q2) 10.5.66
4.9.33 (Q3) 15.8.98
5.12.42 (Q4) 18.10.118

Results were much as anticipated. I hope Tim made it to the MCG today to say farewell and thank you to Buddy Franklin who retired last year - champion at both Hawthorn (9 years) and Sydney (10 years). We may never see the likes of him again. It was very good of him to fly down for this occasion.

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Round 7 (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 9 (21)
Philip on 8 (3)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 8 (11)
Val on 8 (26)
Tim on 7 (19)
Duke on 6 (17)
Anita on 5 (28)
Suzy on 2 (50)

Charity donations are:
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$7.00 - Highest score (Crows - 138)
Philip (Canteen) - A$7.00 (closest margin)
Sussex (Save The Bilby Fund) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

SussexWelsh on 45 (233)
Tim on 43 (196)
Val on 43 (235)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 38 (222)
Philip on 38 (283)
Duke on 37 (191)
Anita on 30 (293)
Suzy on 24 (202)

Please check your scores!!! Sussex has really come into form and scored the maximum 9 out of 9, courtesy of Thursday's drawn game which counts as a win for both sides. He's a worthy leader!

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

ROUND

Thursday May 2
Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide Power (in Adelaide)

Friday May 3
Carlton Blues v Collingwood Magpies (in Melbourne)

Saturday May 4
Sydney Swans v GWS Giants (in Sydney)
St Kilda Saints v North Melbourne Kangaroos (in Melbourne)
Melbourne Demons v Geelong Cats (in Melbourne)
West Coast Eagles v Essendon Bombers (in Perth)

Sunday May 5
Richmond Tigers v Fremantle Dockers (in Melbourne)
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn Hawks (in Melbourne)
Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns (in Brisbane)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight WEDNESDAY May 1 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.15am THURSDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[Sj]

Hi Val, you've not added my weeks points to my total.
My total should be 38 [I predicted 8 correct results this week] 🤞

[Sj]

ROUND 8
```````````````
Port Adelaide Power +5
Carlton Blues
Sydney Swans
St Kilda Saints
Melbourne Demons
Essendon Bombers
Fremantle Dockers
Western Bulldogs
Brisbane Lions

[Val]

Sj wrote: "Hi Val, you've not added my weeks points to my total.
My total should be 38 [I predicted 8 correct results this week] 🤞"

I do apologise! I've corrected both the weekly and cumulative ladders now. Please check and see if I've got it right.

[Sj]

That all looks good Val, thankyou

I didn't want to fall too far behind you three frontrunners

[Tim]

Hi Val, sorry for having been silent. We had some bad news Friday when we were informed by our landlords that they are selling the house and we have 2 months to find somewhere else. This is the second time in 2 years this has happened and in this case they lied to our faces when they visited from Brisbane in early April.
We are thinking of bringing forward our planned move to Brisbane to now so spent the weekend looking and making plans. In the end I just did not fancy the MCG at 4pm on a Sunday and as none of my friends were attending I watched from home. Sadly I would have loved to have seen Buddy but the result cheered me somewhat. They were accurate when had their chances but the Hawks must have been kicking themselves to lose by so many with the stats they had. The Swans are now easily the best defensive side over the last 3 rounds if you see the table in The Age today which shows Carlton as 17th in defence.
I think the Bombers going well so you have every reason to be cheerful as well.
Brisbane has always been in our plans and we find that we can rent the same size house up there for about 50% of the cost in Melbourne and given the number of friends we have there it would be silly not to move now. Victoria works from home and here boss has given her approval to move. I have been unable to find work here since Christmas and I have a few connections in Brisbane so hopefully can get work up there.
Will certainly miss Melbourne and its culture and lifestyle but Victoria finds the winters too long and it plays up with her aches and pains in the cooler months.

[Tim]

Not sure what I was doing last week as in the comp at work I got 8 out of 9 correctly tipping the Cats. Not sure why I said the Blues in this competition
This weeks tips. A few tough calls and some lunacy probably
Port by 12
Collingwood
Giants.....I know but they look awesome at present and have some big names returning and Toby hates us. Plus I believe Parker is on the brink of a return and whilst I love him it will upset the balance of the team to fit him in.
Saints
Cats...again I believe currently unstoppable
Eagles.. I know what I said about the Bombers but in Perth and with Reid set to return who knows
Bulldogs
Suns...Lions are so poor at the moment

[Tim]

Sorry though I was one short
Fremantle

[Sj]

Val, you've missed off your DP over on this week's footie punt.

[Anita]

mine
power by 17
blues
SWANS
saints
cats
eagles
tigers
bulldogs
lions

[SussexWelsh]

Power by 20
Blues
Giants
Saints
Cats
Bombers
Dockers
Bulldogs
Suns

[Philip]

Port Adelaide x 15
Collingwood
GWS
St Kilda
Melbourne
Essendon
Fremantle
Western
Brisbane

[Val]

Sj wrote: "Val, you've missed off your DP over on this week's footie punt."

Thanks Steve. I've added it now.

[Val]

Tim - so sorry to hear your plans have been upended so suddenly. It sounds like you've made the right decision to go north, it's just a pity that the timing is not of your choosing and everything will be done in a rush. I wish you both lots of luck in finding a house you'll love and a job that will fill the gap. Plenty of arts up in Brisbane I'm sure.

[theDuke]

Round 8:

Port - 23pts
Carlton
GWS
Kilda
Geelong
Essendon (Eagles could well get up here though)
Freemantle
Western
Suns (Lions are favs..but the Suns are playing way better than Brisbane atm)

[Val]

theDuke wrote: "Round 8:

Port - 23pts
Carlton
GWS
Saints
Kilda
Geelong
Essendon (Eagles could well get up here though)
Western
Suns (Lions are favs..but the Suns are playing way better than Brisbane atm)"

Duke - I think you've missed the Tigers v Dockers game. It's not until Sunday so you've got a bit of time.

[Val]

Suzy's tips:

Crows x 7
Collingwood
Swans
Kangaroos
Demons
Eagles
Tigers
Hawthorn
Suns

[Val]

My tips:

Port x 8
Pies
Giants
Saints
Cats
Dons (with little confidence)
Freo
Dogs
Lions