Author: craigpett

In a tough round for tipping, well done to Matt who got 6. Next best with 5 were Dee, Sal and Steph, then Grace, Ray and Huddo all got 4 (with Huddo making a very last-minute change of tip from the Bulldogs to the Crows). Our leader Ausi and equal-second Rob and Helen all tipped exactly the same so there was no change in the top three spots but Dee’s 5 puts her in fourth only two off the lead with two rounds left. Who’s name will go on the Honour Board for 2024? Will it involve a tip-off in the finals?

That was a great win for the Crows tonight. Good to see Rankine back and maybe Dan Curtin could play as a regular half-forward after kicking a couple of goals in the last quarter? Carlton have fallen into a hole and what a win for Gold Coast after the siren, with big Mac Andrew cool under pressure. It’s such a wide open premiership race this year with GWS suddenly looking really good as well. Here’s hoping a non-Victorian team wins the premiership for a change – it’s been a while.

Ladder after Round 22…

Wow – Sal has done it yet again, getting 8 – way to go Sal. The next best with 7 were the sister act Helen and Annie. But the News of the Week is that Helen has now jumped into equal second with Rob, 1 behind our leader Ausi. This makes for a very interesting last three weeks. For those of us that can’t win, which is pretty much everyone outside those top 3 unless Dee, Huddo or Annie can pull a rabbit out of the hat – at least we can watch the battle at the top. Remember, I post everyone’s tips here on the blog on the Friday night each week. So, if you want to check it out, you can see what everyone has tipped.

A heart-breaking loss for the Crows. They were brilliant and when Thilthorpe kicked that big goal early in the last quarter to put us more than a goal up, it really looked like we could do it, but Geelong were too strong in the last 15 minutes and it was clear they were going to regain the lead as they did. As Graham Cornes said today, the final three weeks of the season are really important for Matthew Nicks and for the vibe around the club going into 2025. Meanwhile, Margot’s Carlton had a painful loss – McGovern is normally a good kick but he made a meal of that one! And what about Sydney? Simply unbelievable. What’s the problem there I wonder.

The Ladder after Round 21…

Steph only just missed out on getting all 9. The Crows let her down which means she got 8. Next best with 7 were Dee and Sal, followed by Ausi, Huddo, Jeremy, Matt, Rob and me with 6. At the top of the ladder, Ausi is STILL holding on to his lead of 1, with Rob on his heels and now a gap of 2 to Helen and Dee in equal third and Huddo 1 further back. We have four rounds left to tip on.

Well done to the Pear. That was a great win for them over Carlton. As for the Crows, what a disappointment. I really thought that that win last weekend would give them some belief and that they would beat Hawthorn. I never thought they’d get done like they did. But then, Hawthorn were fantastic right from the start, so you have to hand it to them. Their pressure was intense and they kicked straight.

Next week the Crows play Geelong in Geelong. I might head down there and help out with the cheer squad.

The Ladder after Round 20…

Not for the first time this year, the star of the week was Grace was 8 – way to go Grace. She was followed by Dee, Gaynor, Helen, Jeremy and Steph who all got 7. At the top of the ladder, Ausi and Rob tipped differently on two games and one went each way – Ausi got Hawthorn and Rob got Brisbane. So, it’ still Ausi leading his Dad by 1 but Helen has crept 1 closer, now 1 behind Rob. Hudo and Dee are not out of it either.

What an incredible win for the Crows. Jeremy was there in the cheer squad with his friend Brieanna and has been telling everyone all weekend that it was ‘the greatest night of my life’. He and Brieanna also featured on tv a bit – as he has been pointing out. That’s just the kind of win the Crows needed. Let’s hope they can finish the season well although they’ll have their work cut out against Hawthorn next week especially with Dawson and Keays likely to be out.

Meanwhile in the SANFL, South are off the bottom after a much-deserved win over Port at Alberton today.

Ladder after Round 19…

Helen led the way this week with 7, followed by Annie, Austin, Dee, Ray, Rob and Sal who all got 6. At the top of the ladder there’s no change in the top 2 positions. It’s still Ausi by 1 over Rob. But the nearest chaser is now Helen, who is 2 behind Rob. There’s still 6 rounds of footy to tip on. It’s going to be an interesting battle.

The Crows had a pretty decent win in the wet against St Kilda. It was good to see Thilthorpe back and all bulked up and kicking a couple of goals. Next week we are the Friday night game – against Essendon at Docklands. Meanwhile in the SANFL, South are now on the bottom after another narrow loss, this time to North at Victor.

What an incredible day in America today.

Ladder after Round 18…

It was my week this week. I got 8. It’s funny – for the previous two rounds, because I’ve been having an ordinary tipping year, I changed strategy and just tipped the favourites, but that didn’t do me much good so this week I went back to my normal strategy of going for an upset if I sense it’s going to happen. And it paid off. Hopefully I can have a few more weeks like that. Next best with 6 were Helen, Matt and Ray.

But at the top of the ladder it’s still Ausi by 1 from Rob, then 1 back to Hudo, another 1 back to Janet, and so on with more people still in with a chance.

It’s an interesting season especially now with Sydney losing two in a row. Maybe it could be Freo’s year? They’re starting to look good. Next week they play Hawthorn in Launceston which will be interesting. The Crows were behind all game although nearly got themselves back into it in the last quarter. Next week they play St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. Even though their season is over, that will be a big pressure occasion for Matthew Nicks and his team. Collingwood lost again – love it.

The Ladder after Round 17…

Well done to Annie who got 7 this week, followed closely by Steph who got 6. Next best with 5 were Ausi, Janet, Judith, Margot, Matt, Ray and Rob.  At the top of the ladder, it’s still Ausi by 1 from Rob, with Hudo 1 further back and Janet 1 more back.  It’s hard to catch leaders especially as the season draws to an end, because you have to take chances, but you never know – anyone in the top 8 or so spots could still win if they get lucky.

Well, the Crows had a win at last. So did Port. Both Nicks and Hinkley can sleep a little bit better this week. But the highlight of the round for me was the Gold Coast-Collingwood game. The highlight was not Collingwood again coming back and hitting the lead with 3 minutes left, needless to say.  It was Gold Coast then kicking two great goals to win by 11 points. Poor old Collingwood. They even have to travel again this year – to Sydney in Round 22. But all 7 of their other remaining games are at the MCG.

Another huge test for the Crows next week against Brisbane at the Gabba in the late game on Sunday.

Ladder after Round 16…

I hope no one was at Marion this afternoon. Sounded like a terrifying event.

Well done to Annie, Austin, Dee and Gaynor who all got 6 out of 6 this week. Next best with 5 were Helen, Janet, Judith, Robert and me. But the big news is at the top of the ladder where Ausi has edged into the lead on his own, 1 ahead of his dad and his brother who are tied in second place, and Janet 2 further back.

Poor old North Melbourne. Another painful loss for them. But at least they have turned a corner and are now playing with some belief. It will be an interesting game when they play the Bulldogs next week. As for Port, they now seem to be following the example set by the Crows. Hinkley and Nicks are now both under enormous pressure, although both are unlikely to lose their jobs this year, you’d think, but who knows.

An incredible thing is happening in the AFL next week. Collingwood are travelling outside of Melbourne. They have to go to the Gold Coast.  How good would it be if Gold Coast can keep up their record of being unbeaten at home this year.

Happy birthday to Steph for last yesterday.

Ladder after Round 15…

Well, this tipping thing is not easy. Last week there were upsets galore and this week all the favourites (according to the betting prices) got up. Quite a few people got all 6 games – Annie, Austin, Helen, Janet, Judith, and Rob. Next best with 5 were Gaynor, Grace, Hudson, Ray and Sal (continuing her form from last week). At the top of the ladder it’s now Austin and Rob in the lead. Hudo is one back with Janet 1 further back and a few others under that who could still win if things go their way.

What a disastrous season this has become for the Crows. What do they do now? Start playing young guys to prepare for next year? Oh well, they have a bye next week so they can go have a beer and think about it. And what about that Collingwood win today? Simply unbelievable that they keep winning like that, and yes of course – in the last two minutes Daicos was stone cold holding the ball and that 50 metres should have been given to North Melbourne. Both would have resulted in goals.

Next week starts on Friday night.

Ladder after Round 14…

It was another tough week for tipping but the first thing to say is well done Sal, getting 5 out of 8! Brilliant tipping. Next best with 4 were Gaynor, Jeremy, Margot, Ray, Steph and me. But at the top of the ladder, the top 5 position holders all tipped exactly the same apart from Janet going for Essendon. That means there is no change at the top, with Ausi, Hudo and Robert tied for the lead, but now there is a gap of 2 to Janet and Dee.

What can you say about the Crows. The media are going crazy saying there needs to be a clean-out. I’m not so sure. I think they have to stick with the same people and structure for a while yet. The only person I’d like to see off the board is Ricciuto. It’s never sat well with me that he’s on board as well as on the media where he leaks information and makes criticisms. But what would I know. In the meantime, Margot’s Blues are going from strength to strength and if they play Sydney in the Grand Final they will have a home ground advantage – the perks of being a Victorian side.

There’s no Thursday night game next week. We start on Friday.

Ladder after Round 13…