"BALL UP!" - Val's 2025 Aussie Rules Footy Tipping *Open to Everyone*

[theDuke]

Ah bladdy 'ell fire.....what a fab start, didn't expect Swans to lose that one. I bet my boys will win now!

[Tazz]

Looks like your boys are on fire so far Duke!
First stupid Hawks now stupid Pies.
(Gotta remember there are Pies fans here now😐✌️

[Tazz]

Daicos has a problem, think he might be done for the game.

[Val]

What started off as a pretty lack-lustre game soon developed into a really exciting one - especially if you love seeing Collingwood get beaten! I know it was hot and humid up in Sydney but Collingwood were looking their age - their old hands, Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Elliott, Howe, Crisp, Hoskin-Elliott, Mihocek, etc. struggled. Whereas the Giants (without Tom Green, Hogan, Stringer, Riccardi) ran like hares and all these new names (to me anyway) came out the woodwork - Callaghan, Leake, O'Halloran, Gruzewski. Josh Kelly is a master, Sam Taylor played a blinder, Bedford and Daniels stuck to their task all day and Callan Ward (my heart-throb) played like a 20 year old (this after retiring at the end of 2024 and then being lured back). When Cadman learns to be more accurate and Callum Brown learns how to stick those overhead marks, they will be unstoppable. The tsunami is back!

Today's result:

GWS Giants (Duke) v Collingwood Magpies (available)
5.3.33 (Q1) 1.6.12
8.7.55 (Q2) 4.8.32
9.9.63 (Q3) 4.13.37
15.14.104 (Q4) 6.16.52

[Tazz]

0 from 2 🥴
Anyone else find the music being played after each GWS goal annoying and very US like?

[Val]

Yes! Yes! Yes! I don't mind the Swans playing Errol by Aussie Crawl when Gulden scores. They've been doing it for years and there are no other Errols in the competition. Probably no Errols under 60 in the whole of Oz. So it's their own thing and good luck to them. And I've got used to Charlie Cameron's Take Me Home Country Roads. But that's your lot. The line is drawn! NO MORE!!!!

[Val]

The Giants aren't the first to do it, only the latest. I think one or both of the Adelaide teams have also tried to do it.

[Val]

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

OPENING ROUND (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 2 (19)
Suzy on 1 (13)
Jed on 1 (29)
Val on 1 (34)
Tim on 1 (38)
SussexWelsh on 1 (38)
Anita on 1 (48)
Philip on 0 (30)
Tazz on 0 (40)
Duke on 6 (45)

Charity donations are:
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$8.00 - Highest score (only 2 games)
Suzy (Friends With Dignity) - A$8.00 (closest margin)
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$14.00 (weekly winner)

As you will see, I don't think it's right to be awarding a "weekly" winner just for two games (even though Steve was the only one to tip both games correctly); same with the highest score (only four teams played and only two of those are assigned. So that money will go into the pot for the divvy up at the end of the season.

[Tazz]

Yeah openers I can handle but each goal, yeah nah. I always laugh at the guy on the stadium roof wired up in case he slips playing the guitar for Freo and Ports Never tear us Apart. I wonder why Charlie Cameron wants to be taken home to west Virginia though. 🤔

[Val]

The only Pies players I'd give points to today were Darcy Cameron and Dan McStay, maybe Darcy Moore. I was looking at the injury lists. I can't see Mason Cox, Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell adding much to what we saw from them today. That puts a lot of pressure on Dan Houston.

[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

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

ROUND 1

Thursday March 13
Richmond Tigers v Carlton Blues (in Melbourne)

Friday March 14
Hawthorn Hawks v Essendon Bombers (in Melbourne)

Saturday March 15
Geelong Cats v Fremantle Dockers (in Geelong)
Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions (in Sydney)
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne Kangaroos (in Melbourne)
Collingwood Magpies v Port Adelaide Power (in Melbourne)

Sunday March 16
Adelaide Crows v St Kilda Saints (in Adelaide)
Melbourne Demons v GWS Giants (in Melbourne)
West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns (in Perth)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight WEDNESDAY Mar 12 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 8.15am THURSDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

[suzysunshine7]

Second place on the tipsters ladder?!! ... Ohhh no! ... I'm really not good with heights! ;oO

The sooner I end back down at the bottom of the ladder the happier I'll be ;o>

[theDuke]

Tazz wrote: "Looks like your boys are on fire so far Duke!
First stupid Hawks now stupid Pies.
(Gotta remember there are Pies fans here now😐✌️"

Yeah..bloody typical! Ah well, good to see them getting the win, done nothing for my start to the new season tipping wise, but only 2 down plenty of time to catch up!

Well there was at least one, but he hasn't partaken in this for some years now. Anybody heard from Craig of late folks?

[theDuke]

Val wrote: "Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

Sj Brooke (Steve) on 2 (19)
Suzy on 1 (13)
Jed on 1 (29)
Val on 1 (34)
Tim on 1 (38)
SussexWelsh on 1 (38)
Anita on 1 (48)
Philip on 0 (30)
Tazz on 0 (40)
Duke on 6 (45)."

Hee hee...it would be a miracle if i'd managed to score 6 out of two games Val, but thanks for trying to lift my spirits! It's not often i start the season at rock bottom! ;-)

[theDuke]

suzysunshine7 wrote: "Second place on the tipsters ladder?!! ... Ohhh no! ... I'm really not good with heights! ;oO

The sooner I end back down at the bottom of the ladder the happier I'll be ;o>"

Aye, we're both in the wrong place aren't we?! :)

[Sj]

ROUND 1
````````````
Carlton Blues + 50

Hawthorn Hawks
Geelong Cats
Sydney Swans
Western Bulldogs
Collingwood Magpies

Adelaide Crows
Melbourne Demons
Gold Coast Suns

[Tazz]

Ok. The tips of Doom 😂
Carlton by 36
Hawks
Cats
Bris
Bulldogs
Port
Crows
Giants
Suns

[SussexWelsh]

.
.
Blues by 23
Hawks
Cats
Lions
Bulldogs
Power
Saints
Giants
Suns

[Philip]

Carlton x 30
Hawthorn
Geelong
Brisbane
Western
Collingwood
Adelaide
Melbourne
Gold Coast

[theDuke]

Opps, nearly forgot that there was a Thursday game.

Carlton by 60 (Poor Tigers are going to get blown out of the stadium!)
Hawks
Dockers
Lions
North (sniffing an upset here, Doggies missing a lot of key players atm)
Pies
Crows
GWS (50/50 going with my boys)
Eagles (Suns don't travel well)

[Jed]

Carlton by 45
Hawks
Geelong
Lions
Western
Magpies
Crows
Giants
Suns

[Val]

Blues x 29
Dons
Cats
Lions
North
Port
Crows
Giants
Eagles

[Tim]

Thanks to everyone for your wishes over the last weekend. We actually came out of it very well and unlike 280000 homes did not lose power. No trees either and that was a surprise given we now have quite a few of them in our garden. Apart from a lot of water in the garden and an overflowing pool which is now a nasty shade of green we were very lucky.
Watching the Swans was very painful. We need to stop bemoaning the loss of Gulden and get on with it as he will be out for at least half a season.
Val is right about Grundy but somehow, we were worse when he was off the field. The Swans have struggled in the ruck a lot in the last few years and need to sort that position out. Also think we should stop the McCartin experiment.
Anyway, this week I have no idea but here goes...

Blues by 28
Hawks
Cats
Lions..it pains me but can only see a second home defeat to start the season
Dogs
Port
Crows
GWS
Eagles

[Val]

Suzy's tips:

Tigers by 7 points
Essendon
Dockers
Swans
Kangaroos
Port Power
St Kilda
Demons
Eagles

[suzysunshine7]

Thanks Val ... x ... I couldn't work out who the underdogs were going to be last night ;o>

[theDuke]

Just seen the 3Q time score......i think i might be eating humble pie today!

Edit: Yep.....I'm eating a very large slice of it right now...oh boy..this ain't a great start for me, i'll be over a ton on the margins and it's only the 3rd game played..arggghh!

[Val]

Well I don't think any of us would have predicted this as the three-quarter time score:

Richmond Tigers (Philip) v Carlton Blues (available)
1.1.7 (Q1) 5.4.34
4.1.25 (Q2) 7.8.50
9.3.57 (Q3) 8.9.57

[Val]

Is it my imagination or are the umps being more lenient (or at least not as quick on the draw) about calling holding the ball?

[theDuke]

Dunno Val, not actually listening to the game, but it wouldn't surprise me, we saw a lot of dubious umpire decisions during the last season!

And speaking of humble pie, that New Age pundit's predictions about Richmond you'd mentioned Val, well he clearly well off the mark isn't he!

[Val]

And hold on they did!

Tonight's result:

Richmond Tigers (Philip) v Carlton Blues (available)
1.1.7 (Q1) 5.4.34
4.1.25 (Q2) 7.8.50
9.3.57 (Q3) 8.9.57
13.4.82 (Q4) 9.15.69

Once again Suzy nails it! Another $8.00 set aside for Friends With Dignity - good work!

[suzysunshine7]

WoW! ... Well played Tigers!

I'm in shock again! ... I think I am in need of a big piece of cake! ;o>

[Philip]

No way. My team won! Pity I didn't pick them. Well done Suzy

[Val]

Tonight's result:

Hawthorn Hawks (available) v Essendon Bombers (Val)
6.1.37 (Q1) 1.4.10
10.4.64 (Q2) 4.5.29
13.7.85 (Q3) 7.11.53
17.9.111 (Q4) 12.13.85

I was only able to watch the game in patches but I'm sure Hawthorn were never going to be beaten. I don't know if Essendon were lucky to get away with a mere 26 point loss or whether they were good enough to keep the Hawks to a mere 26 point win. But a loss is a loss and losing Langford to a hammy won't help either.

[Anita]

sorry Val
I did an overnight job o n Thursday ,hadn't realised there was a game .
hawks
dockers
SwANS
bulldogs
port
crows
giants
eagles

[Val]

No worries Anita. Real life often gets in the way!

[Val]

Great excitement here. My 8 year old grandson will be part of the Doggies’ guard of honour at tonight’s game.

[Val]

Today's results:

Geelong Cats (available) v Fremantle Dockers (available)
5.4.34 (Q1) 1.1.7
12.4.76 (Q2) 3.4.22
13.6.84 (Q3) 9.9.63
23.9.147 (Q4) 10.9.69

Sydney Swans (Anita) v Brisbane Lions (Jed)
4.0.24 (Q1) 1.3.9
7.3.45 (Q2) 4.8.32
9.6.60 (Q3) 10.10.70
12.10.82 (Q4) 12.14.86

Western Bulldogs (Tazz) v North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve)
5.3.33 (Q1) 1.4.10
8.5.53 (Q2) 6.7.43
12.7.79 (Q3) 10.12.72
17.11.113 (Q4) 14.13.97

Collingwood Magpies (available) v Port Adelaide Power (available)
6.5.41 (Q1) 3.2.20
9.7.61 (Q2) 4.3.27
16.9.105 (Q3) 5.5.35
21.10.136 (Q4) 6.9.45

An exciting game up in Sydney - a real nail-biter! I wonder if Tim was watching that or his Reds?? And a very different Magpies team to the one we saw against the Giants last week - must have been on the pickle juice! North showed some very promising signs although the Dogs were undermanned. But Port? What's their excuse?

[Tazz]

Bet that was fun to see Val the grandson there with the greatest team in the AFL😁
Sheesh, thought Port would have given a better account of themselves against the Pies. 🫤
Dogs won, that's the key take away so far 👍

[Val]

But North gave them a run for their money! I’m glad to see them be more competitive.

[Tazz]

They did play well. Dogs are pretty depleted at present though.
Go Crows.

[Tazz]

Wow, closey with Melb Gws

[theDuke]

Cracking game...very wet there. Just moments left to go, Demons half a kick ahead.

Whoohoo....Giants' Keeffe puts them in the lead, seconds to go!

[theDuke]

Keeffe gives the mighty Giants the win...Yaaaaayyy! :)

Just stole it right at the end. Brilliant game.

Now i need the Eagles to win and give me some relief, my Freo & North upsets tips didn't come off...so....C'Mon Eagles!!!

[Tazz]

Eagles need to pull a rabbit out of the hat for this one and I don't see any magicians out there.

[Tazz]

Eagles are done. They got nothing.

[Val]

I'm calling this one early:
Today's results:

Adelaide Crows (on hiatus) v St Kilda Saints (Tim)
7.2.44 (Q1) 2.2.14
10.4.64 (Q2) 4.3.27
17.7.109 (Q3) 7.7.49
21.9.135 (Q4) 10.12.72

Melbourne Demons (available) v GWS Giants (Duke)
2.2.14 (Q1) 3.1.19
5.4.34 (Q2) 6.5.41
10.6.66 (Q3) 8.7.55
11.8.74 (Q4) 11.11.77

West Coast Eagles (Sussex) v Gold Coast Suns (Suzy)
2.1.13 (Q1) 4.5.29
2.4.16 (Q2) 9.7.61 - HALF-TIME SCORE

[Val]

If a miracle occurs over in the west, I'll revise but I can't see it happening:

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

ROUND ONE (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)

Jed on 8 (58)
Philip on 7 (43)
Tazz on 7 (49)
SussexWelsh on 6 (36)
Tim on 6 (41)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 6 (63)
Duke on 5 (73)
Val on 4 (42)
Anita on 4 (83)
Suzy on 1 (6)

Charity donations are:
To be redistributed at the end of the season - A$8.00 - Highest score (Cats - 147)
Suzy (Friends With Dignity) - A$8.00 (closest margin)
Jed (Great Barrier Reef Foundation) - A$14.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

Jed on 9 (87)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 8 (82)
Philip on 7 (73)
SussexWelsh on 7 (74)
Tim on 7 (79)
Tazz on 7 (89)
Val on 5 (76)
Duke on 5 (118)
Anita on 5 (131)
Suzy on 2 (19)

Please check your scores!!!

Well done Jed! See how easy this game is?? Also, the less you know about it, the better you do. Well done!!

[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 2

Thursday March 20
Carlton Blues v Hawthorn Hawks (in Melbourne)

Friday March 21
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood Magpies (in Melbourne)

Saturday March 22
Essendon Bombers v Adelaide Crows (in Melbourne)
Port Adelaide Power v Richmond Tigers (in Adelaide)
St Kilda Saints v Geelong Cats (in Melbourne)

Sunday March 23
Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles (in Brisbane)
North Melbourne Kangaroos v Melbourne Demons (in Melbourne)
Fremantle Dockers v Sydney Swans (in Perth)

BYE:
GWS Giants, Gold Coast Suns

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight WEDNESDAY Mar 19 (U.K. time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 8.15am THURSDAY (U.K. time) if absolutely necessary.

[theDuke]

Hmm..well, if West Coast can't win at home, they haven't got much hope in away games then. This must the first time that i can recall, that all (bar Carlton) the favourites won in the first round. Normally, i'd expect to see a few 'weaker' teams get one over in the early rounds....not this time it seems.

Oh well, better luck next week. Congrats to Jed on a fine start to the new season.

[Val]

Final score:

West Coast Eagles (Sussex) v Gold Coast Suns (Suzy)
2.1.13 (Q1) 4.5.29
2.4.16 (Q2) 9.7.61
5.5.35 (Q3) 14.11.95
7.7.49 (Q4) 20.16.136