Round 24

The Champion Tipster of the Year for 2026 is… Tony Cardamone! Congratulations Tony on pulling off a stunning victory in your first year in the competition, which also happens to the occasion of its fiftieth running. Other people who had really good years were Fran (Tony’s daughter); Gaynor, who led for a fair chunk of the year; and Helen. Both Fran and Helen had a chance today of finishing equal with Tony in top spot and going into a finals tip-off, but for Helen, Essendon didn’t get up over Port, and for Fran, North Melbourne lost to Sydney. Robert too, ever consistent, was up there again in another good year for him. Judith and Lara finished equal 4th with Gaynor.

The best tipsters in the final round were Annie and Steph with 7, but all the honours belong to Tony. Congrats again Tony. Your name will be going on to the Honour Board for 2026 and I’ll post a photo of it here on the blog when it’s done. Speaking of photos, I’ll get a better one soon but for now, below is a photo from my 60^th in April last year. Tony is in the red Demons cap. To his right is his wife Doris and to his left is Peter Lynch, our fellow tipster and resident Collingwood supporter.

I will be back again for the next running of Pett Family & Friends Tipping in 2027. I hope you’ll all be in again but if you want to opt out, that’s fine. I’ll send an email to everyone a couple of weeks before the first game.

What a great day that was for the Crows yesterday and magnificent farewell for Tex in his last home and away game. It looks like our first final, which will be at Adelaide Oval, will be against the winner of Bulldogs and Collingwood. Both of those teams have beaten us at AO this year and Collingwood beat us there almost every time. I’ve got a feeling, though, that whoever we play, the Crows will win this time.

See you later everyone.