Amazon exiles discussion

Here we go again! Yes, another season where we all start completely confident that this will be "my/your" team's year - at least for a few weeks anyway.

This is 2023's participants, together with their teams and charities. Can you let me know whether you're keen to go round again and whether you wish to make any changes.

Val - Essendon (The Bombers) - Asylum Seeker Resource Centre -
Anita (Sydney Swans) - The Mirabel Foundation -
Tim - St. Kilda - Koala Hospital - Port Macquarie -
David - Brisbane (The Lions) - The Song Room -
Philip - Richmond (The Tigers) - Canteen -
SJ Brooke- North Melbourne (The Kangaroos) - Backpack Bed For Homeless -
Blastro - Footscray (The Western Bulldogs) - Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation -
SussexWelsh - West Coast (The Eagles) - Save The Bilby Fund -
Dean - Adelaide (The Crows) - Sacred Heart Mission -
Suzy - Gold Coast (The Suns) - Friends With Dignity -
The Duke – Greater Western Sydney (The Giants) – Centre For Eye Research Australia -

I haven't checked the websites but I think the addresses are correct.

Teams that are available are Collingwood, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton, Port Adelaide, Fremantle Dockers and Adelaide Crows.

I will email Blastro, Suzy and Dean to see if they want to participate. I'll contact Duke on his forum and hopefully Anita, Steve, Philip, Sussex and Tim will see my post on the Premier League tipping thread.

I'll also check with TheFoe and Tech to see if they're interested in returning. I don't have contact details for David but I hope he sees the new season somewhere.

The one page .pdf file of the 2024 fixture is available at:



or you can check out a bit more detail at:



You'll notice some changes this year: lots of Thursday night games; earlier starting times for some night games; and there's now an OPENING ROUND prior to ROUND ONE. The four games in Opening Round are the AFL's attempt to make a more concerted infiltration of the traditional rugby league states - New South Wales and Queensland - so the four teams based in those states will each play a home game. The eight clubs playing in the "opening round" having a bye between rounds two and six.

Any questions? Feel free to ask.

I'm keeping the charitable donations the same as last year, mainly because I'm too faffed to do anything about it. Assuming we go around again in 2025 I'll definitely add in some more for cost-of-living changes.

OPENING ROUND

Thursday March 7
Sydney Swans v Melbourne Demons (in Sydney)

Friday March 8
Brisbane Lions v Carlton Blues (in Brisbane)

Saturday March 9
Gold Coast Suns v Richmond Tigers (on the Gold Coast)
GWS Giants v Collingwood Magpies (in Sydney)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight WEDNESDAY Mar 6 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 8.15am THURSDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

I am certainly ready to go

And I shall stick with my Giants and charity too.

I've been meaning to post this for a few years but keep forgetting. Unfortunately, the author has since been "cancelled" for inappropriate behaviour in his professional capacity so I won't give the credit, but I do think it captures perfectly the footy obsession that rules everywhere but N,S,W, and Queensland.

"I love the Geelong Football Club.

I love that a Granny Smith apple decided the 1970 final series. The great Doug Wade (Geel.), lining up for goal, miskicked when an apple thrown from the crowd hit the Sherrin (ball) as he dropped it for the torp (torpedo kick). Doug appealed for a free kick. The call (correctly) was “Play on”. John Rantall scooped up the ball. It travelled the entire length of the ground and South Melbourne (now the Swans) kicked a goal to win by 7 points. Geelong missed the four and the finals but I love that because of that result, Bobby Skilton – sorry, the triple-Brownlow medallist Bobby Skilton – played in his one and only finals game.

I love it that my favourite player starred in my favourite single game – the best I’ve seen after more than 50 years of barracking – a game we lost. Round 3, 1993: 3 points in it at three-quarter time. Final score: Geelong 19.18.132, Essendon 23.18.156. Paul Salmon (Ess.) kicked 10. The incomparable Gary Ablett Sen (Geel.): 25 kicks, 0 handballs, 14 goals, 7 behinds, 3 Brownlow votes (i.e. the maximum).

And I love it that I saw it with a close mate who is as Essendon as I am Geelong.

I love footy because of the supporter rituals of my generation. In the early days there was Grandad, a tartan rug, a thermos, chicken sandwiches and a fruit cake. Today: President’s lunch, steak and a glass of red.

I love Max Rooke for taking the stretcher car for a spin after the 2009 Grand Final. And for breeding ducks in his bathtub.

I love the diehards who, in a digital age, still fill in each player’s scores, goals and behinds in the Footy Record.

I love that of the 35 codes of football in the world, only one has no stupid offside rule.

I also love that unlike our game, all those other games only recognise a successful score: in the net, over the bar or in the end zone – a try or a field goal. At most, some codes allow for bonus points when you score. I love that only our game says “You missed. But only by up to 6.4 metres either side of the goal post. You had a crack! Have a score: one point.”

And I love that we call one point “a behind” and then score it as one point.

And I love Mike Williamson’s perfect three word poem of the 1970 Grand Final: “Jesaulenko! You beauty!”

I love the foibles of club songs: particularly that “the Premiership’s a cakewalk”. A cakewalk is a strutting dance popular on slave plantations at the end of the 19th Century: a contest in graceful walking with a cake as the prize. Obvious Collingwood connection, really.

I love how touchingly optimistic it is to say that the Adelaide Crows are “respected by our foes” and Carlton is “the team that never lets you down”.

I love that field umpires are sponsored by OPSM (Optical Prescription Spectacle Makers): a marriage so made in heaven that it was obvious from the start, really!

I love the chrysanthemums in the lapels of Lou Richards, Bobby Davis and Jack Dyer on Mother’s Day on Channel 7’s “World of Sport”. It was like putting lipstick on pigs (albeit funny ones). I also loved Lou’s recipes, featuring Golden Circle pineapple chunks on Channel 7’s “League Teams”.

I love the magicians I have had the honour of watching: Gary Ablett Senior and Junior. Nick Riewoldt. Greg Williams. Tim Watson. Robbie Flower. Polly Farmer. Wayne Carey. Peter Hudson. Tony Lockett. Matthew Richardson. Sam Kekovich. Sam Newman. James Hird. Robert Harvey. Michael Voss. Matthew Scarlett. Leigh Matthews, with apologies to Neville Bruns.

I love that, at Geelong Football Club, we continue to protest that Richmond’s fullback Freddie Swift was behind the line when he took that mark in the 1967 Grand Final and that it cost us a flag.

I love that in 1981, Lou Richards gave Robert Klomp a best-on-ground Thorn colour TV after a 9 possession game – almost as much as I love Matthew Lloyd’s best-on-ground big screen TV to Adelaide’s Will Young for a two possession game against Collingwood in 2010.

I love Dennis Cometti’s carefully crafted ad libs: Cameron Ling running “gingerly”. Tony Metropolis “kicking to the city end”. Kevin Sheedy coaching Essendon “14 years before Adelaide was founded”. (The team, not the city, as Dennis helpfully reminded us.)

However, my Cometti favourite was when Port Adelaide’s No. 9 Josh Carr clashed with his brother Matthew, Fremantle’s No. 9 – “A two Carr collision, both with the same rego”. Centimetre perfect.

I love a football “secret pleasure”. Your team is playing an arch rival. You can’t get to the game. You pretend that you don’t want to know the final score before tonight’s replay.

But – you surreptitiously check the result. You note that you’ve won. And you sit down to watch the whole replay from start to finish with a single malt Scotch and a secure smugness, as if you know nothing of the end result.

And I love the way footy and Melbourne are synonymous. Whether you’ve just arrived from a world away or if you’re a local but have never paid any attention; whether you’re diehard and live for footy or if you are somewhere in-between – when you have a team, you have an allegiance, a tribe, a belonging.

I love that footy is the glue in Melbourne.

yes ,I'm up for it ,thanks for running this again Val.
Swans by 17
lions
suns
Maggie's

come on you swans,
We've had a swan take up residence on the pond at work,for some reason we ve been calling her Sheila..

so sorry just saw the mistake,obviously I should have put
Magpies.

Been a few months off and now cannot remember if the margin is just for the first game. I am in another tipping comp at work and you need to provide a margin for every game. Please let me know if i need to do others.
Swans by 7
Lions
Gold Coast
Pies

What an awful start for Swans with Mills already out for half a season after his stupidity at the Mad Monday celebrations from last September (so out of keeping for him but now awarded sole captaincy which seems an odd way to go) and now Luke Parker breaking his arm in pre season hit out against GWS last week.
Hopefully likes of Chad Warner and Errol Gulden plus new boy Taylor Adams will step up.
I will be watching first game from New Zealand next Thursday as over there for a week from Saturday.

Thanks Tim. Margin only required on the first game of each round. I think I would struggle with the maths if I did every game in every round! Enjoy NZ.

Yes that would be beyond the call of duty

My other comp is run by ESPN so somewhat larger resources. It makes it very hard to tip as well. Or rugby ones also require margins for every match

Just an idea, but would anybody be interested in doing a final ladder position prediction? If you want to play, for fun...you have until round 3 to get yours posted. Been hearing a lot good noises about GWS, some AFL pundits have predicted an all Sydney GF this year! That'll be a thing to witness! Anyhoo....mine looks this:

18th - West Coast Eagles
17th - Melbourne Kangeroos
16th - Essendon Bombers
15th - Freemantle Dockers
14th - Gold Coast Suns
13th - Hawthorn Hawks
12th - Richmond Tigers
11th - Western Bulldogs
10th - Saint Kilda Saints
9th - Geelong Cats

And any of these are potentially interchangeable, but here's my top 8:

8th - Adelaide Crows
7th - Sydney Swans
6th - Carlton Blues
5th - Melbourne Demons
4th - Brisbane Lions
3rd - Port Adelaide Power
2nd - Collingwood Magpies
1st - GWS Giants (Yep....i'm feeling confident for them this season!)

And my tips for Round 0:

Swans - 17 pts
Lions
Suns
GWS

And they're off! ......

Swans by 12
Lions
Suns
Magpies

G'day cobbers!

Sydney Swans +1
Brisbane Lions
Gold Coast Suns
GWS Giants

I've heard from Suzy and she is definitely in, but no response thus far from Nick, Dean and Blastro. I've sent reminders to them and also to Philip. I have no way of getting in touch with David so if anyone is friends with him, could you let him know? Ta!

Philip's in! Hurrah!

Hi Val

Thanks for the enthusiastic welcome although not sure I really deserve it! Anyway it's great that you are running this again and I am back supporting the Tigers (except this week) and Canteen of course. Here are my predictions.

Melbourne + 5
Brisbane
Gold Coast
Collingwood

Just wondering...what about Tech? I haven't seen him post on here for yonks.....and just when his beloved Magpies are doing very well atm! Has he left 카지노싸이트?

My tips:

Dees x 11
Lions
Tigers
Giants

Suzy's tips:

Dees x 7
Blues
Tigers
Giants

I think Tech is taking a long break and concentrating on real life for now.

I haven't heard from Blastro or Dean but still hoping David will find us.

Tonight's result:

Sydney Swans (Anita) v Melbourne Demons (on hiatus)
3.3.21 (Q1) 1.6.12
4.3.27 (Q2) 2.8.20
7.10.52 (Q3) 7.8.50
12.14.86 (Q4) 9.10.64

Swans had it all over the Dees tonight. A great showing - particularly from Brodie Grundy (ex Melbourne, ex Collingwood). Anita and Duke had the closest margin so both win $7.00 for The Mirabel Foundation and Centre For Eye Research Australia respectively.

A great result for The Swans in difficult humid conditions. Wonderful debut for Grundy who dominated Gawn all night except for perhaps the first 15 minutes. Also proved a winner for the idea of this round playing 4 games outside Victoria when no other games in other codes taking place. A near capacity crowd of over 40000 at the SCG and apparently The Giants game also to be played in front of a capacity crowd. I was watching on my phone from the depths of remote Northland in New Zealand where the match didnt finish until well after midnight.

Wonderful opener for the season but it will be tough for The Swans at the G next Friday evening against Collingwood but hope our youngsters put up a good showing. I will be there to cheer us on.

Tonight's result:

Brisbane Lions (David) v Carlton Blues (available)
7.2.44 (Q1) 2.0.12
9.5.59 (Q2) 4.4.28
10.11.71 (Q3) 11.6.72
12.13.85 (Q4) 13.8.86

What a game! Brisbane came out with all guns firing and looked unstoppable. Every pass landed, goal kicking accurate. Carlton showed a bit of spirit in the second quarter but it was after half time that they showed their courage and ability. Their twin forwards Harry Mackay and Charlie Curnow both stood up - six unanswered goals. The final quarter was worthy of a grand final such was the desperation displayed by both sides. I need to go and have a lie down and get my heart rate back to somewhere near normal.

Great game. Footy is back with a bang

Tim wrote: "Great game. Footy is back with a bang"

Tim, when you are back in Melbourne, heartily recommend the play "37" at the M.T.C. You'll recognise the number (Adam Goodes). It's an excellent play and the actors and staging are top-notch. 5 stars in The Age:

Today's results:

Gold Coast Suns (Suzy) v Richmond Tigers (Philip)
5.4.34 (Q1) 1.0.6
11.8.74 (Q2) 2.1.13
11.11.77 (Q3) 8.3.51
14.15.99 (Q4) 9.6.60

GWS Giants (Duke) v Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus)
5.2.32 (Q1) 3.6.24
10.5.65 (Q2) 6.10.46
14.5.89 (Q3) 6.13.49
18.6.114 (Q4) 11.16.82

New Suns' coach, Damian Hardwick (ex-Richmond), obviously knew all his old side's weaknesses and the Suns exploited them ruthlessly in the first half. Richmond were better in the second half but the Suns looked younger, fitter, faster.

Giants were magnificent this evening. I missed the first quarter but I think Callan Ward may have been subbed out with a shoulder injury. Callum Brown (5 goals) and Brent Daniels & Jesse Hogan (4 goals each) starred. So good to see Collingwood humbled - I know they're a class outfit but I hate their sense of entitlement.

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)

Duke on 3 (5)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 3 (21)
Anita on 2 (5)
SussexWelsh on 2 (10)
Tim on 2 (15)
Suzy on 2 (29)
Philip on 1 (27)
Val on 1 (33)

Charity donations are:
Duke (Centre For Eye Research Australia) - A$7.00 - Highest score (Giants - 114)
Anita (The Mirabel Foundation) & Duke (Centre For Eye Research Australia) - A$7.00 each (closest margin)
Duke (Centre For Eye Research Australia) - A$12.00 (weekly winner)

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


ROUND 1

Thursday March 14
Carlton Blues v Richmond Tigers (in Melbourne)

Friday March 15
Collingwood Magpies V Sydney Swans (in Melbourne)

Saturday March 16
Essendon Bombers v Hawthorn Hawks (in Melbourne)
GWS Giants v North Melbourne Kangaroos (in Sydney)
Geelong Cats v St Kilda Saints (in Geelong)
Gold Coast Suns v Adelaide Crows (on the Gold Coast)

Sunday March 17
Melbourne Demons v Western Bulldogs (in Melbourne)
Port Adelaide Power v West Coast Eagles (in Adelaide)
Fremantle Dockers v Brisbane Lions (in Perth)

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight WEDNESDAY Mar 13 (your time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 8.15am THURSDAY (your time) if absolutely necessary.

tigers by 14
SWANS
hawks
giants
cats
suns
bulldogs
port power
lions

Thank you Val....a good start for me..and my mighty Giants! That was the acid test right there...could the Sydney boys knock off the champs? Ohhhh yeah baby! :)

Hi Val
I think it should actually be 3 correct for me.

Quite right! I've corrected our ladder. Thanks for being vigilant!

Great opening round for the game.
Carlton by 32
Swans
Essendon
Giants
St Kilda
Gold Coast
Melbourne
Port
Fremantle

Carlton Blues +23

Collingwood Magpies
Hawthorn Hawks
GWS Giants
Geelong Cats
Gold Coast Suns

Melbourne Demons
Port Adelaide Power
Brisbane Lions

Round 1 tips:

Carlton - 18 pts
Pies
Hawks
GWS
Cats
Suns
Doggies
Port
Lions

Thanks for the reminder Val and good to see what a great start to the punting season we both had!

Carlton x 30
Collingwood
Essendon
GWS
Geelong
Adelaide
Melbourne
Port Adelaide
Brisbane

Philip wrote: "Thanks for the reminder Val and good to see what a great start to the punting season we both had!"

To quote Yazz : The only way is up!

Suzy's tips

Tigers x 7
Swans
Hawks
Roos
Saints
Crows
Dogs
Eagles
Freo

Mine

Blues x 10
Pies
Dons
Giants
Cats
Suns
Dees
Port
Lions

Tonight's result:

Carlton Blues (available) v Richmond Tigers (Philip)
3.2.21 (Q1) 5.2.32
6.9.45 (Q2) 7.4.46
9.11.65 (Q3) 11.7.73
12.14.86 (Q4) 12.9.81

A very hard fought game with the lead changing constantly. I had the closest margin (Blues x 10) so win $7.00 for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

Tigers?would have won if they had not lodt 3 players during the game. Very brave effort from them and Carlton continue to win tight matches flattering to deceive and relying on a couple of top stars to get them over the line. Harry McKay in particular. Many tough calls by the umpires as well particularly in closing moments when Tigers could have easily been awarded a free for Holding the Ball

Swans
Bombers
Giants
Cats
Suns
Demons
Power
Lions

Tonight's result:

Collingwood Magpies (on hiatus) v Sydney Swans (Anita)
3.1.19 (Q1) 2.6.18
5.2.32 (Q2) 7.8.50
6.5.41 (Q3) 12.10.82
10.9.69 (Q4) 15.12.102

I hope Tim is back in Melbourne and was able to attend tonight's game. If he did, I'm sure his heart was in his mouth - at least for the first half. The final score flatters Collingwood because the Swans had their measure all night. Even with a quieter than usual Papley and an unaccustomed lack of communication at times, both in attack and defense, the Sydneysiders excelled all over the ground. Heeney was magnificent, Rowbottom's work rate was unbelievable and Chad Warner led from the front. It's a bit unfair to single out any of the players as they all contributed. Unlike Collingwood where Bobby Hill, Ash Johnson, Jamie Elliott were all kept quiet. I may have tipped the Pies but I was barracking for Sydney all night. While I do like some of the Magpies' players, I just can't stand Maynard and am not a fan of McCreery either. great to see the Pies 0 from 2! Well done Swans!!

I was there. What a performance. So slick and sharp and we missed a couple of sitters whilst giving away 18 points in the last 2 minutes. It could and should have been a 50 point win.
Just hope we can keep this going but young team and hopefully more to come still

Now at home I am reflecting on what a big night of sport it was for me.
It was a difficult decision to attend the Swans game at the MCG as my other major team here in Australia is the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby competition. At least I now know where my top loyalty lies but we did have many friends down from Brisbane attending the Reds game.
For those of you not familiar with Melbourne the MCG is next to AAMI Park where football and rugby is played separated only by the railway line. The matches tonight kicked off at 7 35 and 7 40 respectively. My wife Victoria went to the Reds who beat the Melbourne Rebels 53 26 to go second on the ladder having beaten The Chiefs from New Zealand last weekend who were previously unbeaten.
Having been and still am, a life long Spurs fan, I had never seen my team win a championship or premiership until I moved to Australia. In my first season here the Queensland Reds won the Super Rugby tournament in 2011 beating the Crusaders in the final at Suncorp . That was back in the days when this tournament was great and very hard to win. Although we were living in Sydney then we flew up to every home match at Suncorp Stadium ( to my mind the best stadium in the world) in Brisbane that season apart from the final which we drove to due to the massive cost of flights on the weekend of the final.
In my second year here The Swans won the AFL Premiership beating Hawthorn. In those days I did not take out the membership that guarantees a ticket for the final so although I had seen all home Swans matches plus a couple of away games I missed out on the final.
All of this I hope tells you something about me and my passion for the teams I support. I still get upset when any of them lose but tonight was one of those rare days when I am so proud of The Swans and The Reds. Both young exciting teams but I hope both have a big future this year. It is the start of the season for both codes and lots of things can happen but at this moment I am full of hope.
On top of that we are doing 2 wine tours over this weekend locally with said friends from Brisbane and the weather forecast is fantastic.

So glad you got to see the win last night Tim. I hope you enjoy your winery tours and get to sample some fine drops.

The only "final" I've seen is when I was doing my library qualification in Leeds in 1971/72. My flat-share friend (she's Portuguese but was a resident of Rabat, Morocco and a student at Toulouse University) and I attended every Leeds United home game and those away games we could get to. When our team made it to the F.A. Cup Final we were able to get tickets (thanks Dad!) and had a wonderful weekend in London and watched our boys attain glory. Unfortunately they couldn't quite do the double, missing out by a point to Derby County.

Today's results:

Essendon Bombers (Val) v Hawthorn Hawks (available)
4.2.26 (Q1) 2.7.19
7.3.45 (Q2) 5.11.41
12.3.75 (Q3) 9.14.68
17.5.107 (Q4) 11.17.83

GWS Giants (Duke) v North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve)
4.3.27 (Q1) 2.0.12
10.7.67 (Q2) 8.0.48
15.11.101 (Q3) 10.4.64
17.19.121 (Q4) 13.4.82

Geelong Cats (available) v St Kilda Saints (Tim)
2.3.15 (Q1) 1.5.11
6.7.43 (Q2) 4.6.30
6.13.49 (Q3) 5.9.39
10.16.76 (Q4) 9.14.68

Gold Coast Suns (Suzy) v Adelaide Crows (Dean)
3.2.20 (Q1) 1.1.7
5.4.34 (Q2) 1.2.8
7.9.51 (Q3) 3.4.22
8.12.60 (Q4) 8.6.54

I only saw the first half of the Bombers/Hawks game but we seemed to go okay and the final score was very welcome. I also saw the second half of the Cats/Saints game. The Saints were within a point with a minute and a half to go so they did very well down at the Cattery. And while the Suns looked to be cruising, the Crows (sans Tex Walker) came home strongly.

That was the great Leeds side of Don Revie. Happy memories for you. Glad to see Bombers wiin yesterday. It always feels good to get off to a winning start.
There was a great irony to my story which Sussex will appreciate.
Our tour yesterday was wonderful and the best was Soumah Winery where wehad awonderful lunch overlooking some beautiful scenery and only just an hour from the Melbourne CBD. We reallydo not appreciate what is on our doorstep but shortly off to the Mornington Peninsular to see what we can find today.