Amazon exiles discussion

Lions by 31
Magpies
Suns
Giants
Crows
Demons
Cats

Brisbane Lions +44

Collingwood Magpies
Gold Coast Suns
GWS Giants
Adelaide Crows

Melbourne Demons
Geelong Cats

Brisbane x 60

Collingwood
Gold Coast
GWS
Adelaide
Melbourne
Geelong

Round 12:

Lions - 16 pts
Pies
Suns
GWS
Crows
Demons
Cats

Suzy's tips:

Essendon by 7
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Richmond
Sydney
Saint Kilda
Eagles

One of those weeks when all the results look obvious - but will it turn out that way???

Mine:

Lions x 37
Pies
Suns
Giants
Crows
Dees
Cats

Tonight's result:

Brisbane Lions (Jed) v Essendon Bombers (Val)
6.3.39 (Q1) 1.1.7
7.9.51 (Q2) 4.1.25
10.10.70 (Q3) 9.4.58
13.12.90 (Q4) 11.6.72

At the end of the first quarter you could only guess how the score would blow out, but Essendon, to their credit, hung in there and were level pegging on more than one occasion. Though vastly outclassed, they amped up the pressure after half-time and were far from disgraced.

Anita was only one point off the margin and so wins $8.00 for The Mirabel Foundation - nice work!

Last night's result:

Collingwood Magpies (available) v Hawthorn Hawks (available)
4.1.25 (Q1) 3.3.21
10.3.63 (Q2) 6.3.39
14.9.93 (Q3) 8.5.53
16.11.107 (Q4) 8.8.56

Today's results:

Gold Coast Suns (Suzy) v Fremantle Dockers (available)
2.1.13 (Q1) 5.3.33
5.5.35 (Q2) 6.5.41
7.7.49 (Q3) 9.8.62
9.10.64 (Q4) 11.9.75

GWS Giants (Duke) v Richmond Tigers (Philip)
2.1.13 (Q1) 6.5.41
4.3.27 (Q2) 7.11.53
7.6.48 (Q3) 10.16.76
12.8.80 (Q4) 10.17.77

Giants get out of jail! I hope this is not the last we see of Callan Ward.

One game to go today.

crazy day, not sure how Giants came back

Val wrote: "Last night's result:"

From what i heard, Ward has done his ACL, so he'll most probably not see the remainder of the season....and some have suggested that given his age (35 years), it might be the end of his career, but hopefully not. I actually switched off at the half time, thinking that was it, another dismal performance by GWS on their own ground. But i switched back on to it again on the final quarter, some turn around! But it has shown the weaknesses in the squad....they did indeed just only got away with it. Surprisingly, not a single goal or behind from Hogan this time around. He's third in the running for the Colman award this season, behind Jeremy Cameron & Ben King respectively.

I had wondered if Gold Coast were due to drop one, and they did, Fremantle were impressive today and now in the 8. Meanwhile in Sydney...........oh dear...looking very painful.

Not a good night for the Swans, especially as they celebrated the 20th anniversary of their Premiership win. Lovely to see Adam Goodes taking his rightful place among the celebrations.

Tonight's result:

Sydney Swans (Anita) v Adelaide Crows (available)
1.2.8 (Q1) 5.3.33
1.4.10 (Q2) 12.3.75
5.7.37 (Q3) 18.4.112
5.11.41 (Q4) 21.5.131

Today's results:

Melbourne Demons (available) v St Kilda Saints (Tim)
2.2.14 (Q1) 6.2.38
6.9.45 (Q2) 9.4.58
7.13.55 (Q3) 11.6.72
7.19.61 (Q4) 14.7.91

West Coast Eagles (Sussex) v Geelong Cats (available)
2.0.12 (Q1) 4.5.29
7.2.44 (Q2) 8.7.55
9.4.58 (Q3) 10.9.69
11.7.73 (Q4) 17.14.116

Only Jed and Suzy saw the Saints getting up! The Dees' revival halted in its tracks.

We're at the half-way point!

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

ROUND TWELVE (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 6 (3)
Duke on 5 (2)
Tim on 5 (5)
SussexWelsh on 5 (13)
Val on 5 (19)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 5 (26)
Philip on 5 (42)
Anita on 3 (1)
Suzy on 2 (25)
Tazz on 1 (52)

Charity donations are:
To be re-distributed at the end of the season - A$8.00 - Highest score (Crows - 131)
Anita (The Mirabel Foundation)- A$8.00 (closest margin)
Jed (Great Barrier Reef Foundation) - A$14.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

Sj Brooke (Steve) on 72 (286)
Jed on 71 (257)
Tim on 69 (285)
Val on 66 (277)
SussexWelsh on 66 (308)
Duke on 61 (342)
Philip on 60 (422)
Anita on 55 (365)
Tazz on 37 (539)
Suzy on 32 (225)

Well done Jed - how easy is this comp???? Still tight at the top.

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.theroar.com.au/afl/afl-la...

ROUND 13

Thursday Jun 5
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn Hawks (in Melbourne)

Friday Jun 6
Adelaide Crows v Brisbane Lions (in Adelaide)

Saturday Jun 7
Richmond Tigers v Sydney Swans (in Melbourne)
Geelong Cats v Gold Coast Suns (in Geelong)
GWS Giants v Port Adelaide Power (in Canberra)

Sunday Jun 8
North Melbourne Kangaroos v West Coast Eagles (in Bunbury, W.A.)
Carlton Blues v Essendon Bombers (in Melbourne)

Monday Jun 9
Melbourne Demons v Collingwood Magpies (in Melbourne)

BYE: St Kilda Saints, Fremantle Dockers

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight WEDNESDAY June 4th (U.K. time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.30am THURSDAY (U.K. time) if absolutely necessary.

Three word summary:

ADELAIDE CROWS: Proper contender behaviour.

BRISBANE LIONS: We’re still worried.

CARLTON: Had the bye.

COLLINGWOOD: Clear top seed.

ESSENDON: Brave given circumstances.

FREMANTLE: Finally coming good.

GEELONG: Defence looked unreliable.

GOLD COAST SUNS: A bit unlucky.

GWS GIANTS: For Wardy (Callan Ward). Still...

HAWTHORN: (Coach Sam) Mitchell doth protest...

MELBOURNE: Trademark Dees, unfortunately.

NORTH MELBOURNE: Had the bye.

PORT ADELAIDE: Had the bye.

RICHMOND: Hurts, but promising.

ST KILDA: (Marcus) Windhager seriously underrated.

SYDNEY SWANS: Have fallen apart.

WEST COAST EAGLES: Excellent, then tired.

WESTERN BULLDOGS: Had the bye.

Cannot begin to make a comment on the Swans other than the issues are very deep and Dean Cox has to shoulder the blame as the team are simply not playing. This weekend is a must, but I cannot see it myself. To be fair to Cox, he was spitting in the post-game interview, and he is not blaming injuries. This week starts with a very tight one on Thursday. Many other close matches by the looks of it too.
Bulldogs by 8
Crows
Tigers...at least they will try
Suns
GWS
Roos.... although Eagles getting better
Bombers
Pies

mine
bulldogs by 16
crows
SWANS
cats
power
eagles
bombers
magpies

Looks fairly straightforward doesn't it? For some, 13 is unlucky. I just have this feeling that it's going to be 'one of those rounds' again!

I'm miles behind, so, to heck with it...I'm gunning for some upsets!

Round 13:

Bulldogs - 33 pts
Crows
Tigers
Cats
GWS
Eagles
Bombers
Pies

Western x 40
Brisbane
Sydney
Geelong
GWS
Kangaroos
Carlton
Collingwood

Hawthorn by 7
Brisbane
Sydney
Suns
Port
Eagles
Essendon
Melbourne

.
.
Bulldogs by 10
Crows
Tigers
Cats
Giants
Eagles
Blues
Magpies

Hawks by 9

Crows

Swans
Cats
Giants

Roo's
Bombers

Magpies

Duke - you may be interested in this article from today's Melbourne Age newspaper about GWS's Callan Ward. Written by Bob Murphy, former captain of the Bulldogs (where Ward started his footy career) and another much-loved footy icon (he's also a music afficianado who writes well on the subject and I've often seen him at rock concerts).

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/t...

In case you can't access the link (with photos and video), here's a transcript:

Opinion
The footy kiss that said everything about an AFL warrior - Bob Murphy
Former Western Bulldogs captain
June 4, 2025 — 12.00pm

On Sundays, I’ve started running laps of a footy oval across town. The first time was three weeks ago and I’ve returned every Sunday since. It’s become a ritual of sorts, somewhere between a meditation and purge.

Last Sunday, at the completion of this physical prayer, I crouched down, knees pointed outward, elbows on my knees and eyes looking straight down, my heaving breath the only sound. I was reminded of an old footy myth.

I’d heard that the great Stephen Kernahan believed that there was a single stretch (very similar to this crouch position I was in) that took care of everything a footballer needed. Groin, lower back, quadriceps and calves. Frozen in position, I was reminded of my pure love for such things in footy.

Was the story true? Doesn’t matter; I live for these little pieces of footy folklore.

I stayed in my restorative pose, which I will call “the Sticks”, for an extra minute or so reaching for other foggy stories about footy players that I used to know.

Nathan Ablett (a rich source for this type of thing) was alleged to have insisted to his fitness staff that if they wanted him to run six laps, then half of them would have to be run in the opposite direction to satisfy his innate need for balance. Bonkers. Or so I used to think. Then I realised I had been doing exactly that on my weekly circle work. It’s a form of meditation.

On this most recent outing it was hard for my thoughts not to wander towards a friend in pain. It was an old Bulldogs teammate and current GWS veteran, Callan Ward, who had crumpled onto the grass the night before, his season done, his career in the balance. “Ah footy, shivving footballers in the kidneys for over a hundred years,” was how a good mate once put it to me. It rang true at that moment.

The footy community can, at times, feel a bit like professional wrestling; everyone hates each other, but for the most part, it’s not real. Callan Ward is loved. This adoration from those who inhabit the game is rare. Players so tough are rarely as kind and empathetic in equal measure.

I’ve known Cal since he was a boy, and he’s always been a tough footballer. More than that, he has always been achingly sincere.

My favourite story of Cal, in the vein of half-truth, was not the right memory for the moment, but it’s where my thoughts went.

It’s said that on this day, then Giants coach Leon Cameron was seething about his team’s treatment from the umpires and sent his captain, Cal, to have a word with them to get that message across.

Cal stood in front of the umps and was a few minutes into a spirited plea on behalf his coach when a smirk ran across one of the umpires’ faces. “Cal, we’re the boundary umpires, the field umpires are over there.”

Approaching the umps is not the instinctive thing for a leader to do.

Nor is it instinctive to stand in front of your teammates at the three-quarter-time huddle and plead with them to find a little more when your knee is torn apart just like your heart, but that’s what Cal Ward did on Saturday. That’s who he is, and I am in awe of him.

It wasn’t what he said – Ward wouldn’t be the first footballer to implore his teammates to play their roles – it was the fact he was selfless enough to say it in that moment, on crutches, knowing his career might have just ended.

Cal’s teammates are in awe of him, too. All that emotion, sealed with a Lachie Whitfield kiss. Ward was lying on his back in pain, wiping his eyes with a towel when Whitfield hugged and pecked him on the cheek. It said everything.

The Giants currently sit seventh on the ladder, after hauling in a significant deficit in the last quarter to beat the Tigers. They’re now up to their eyeballs in the premiership race.

That is due in no small part to the heart and goodness of Callan Ward and all that he has given them and the game.

The privilege of wearing the orange and charcoal jumper just got heavy with significance. Watch out.

My tips:

Doggies x 13
Crows
Lions
Swans
Cats
Giants
North
Carlton
Pies

Val wrote: "Duke - you may be interested in this article from today's Melbourne Age newspaper about GWS's Callan Ward. Written by Bob Murphy, former captain of the Bulldogs (where Ward started his footy career..."

A very much loved player Val..he will be missed. He is out for the remainder of this season...it remains to be seen what happens re his career. I have seen a interview of him a couple of days later, he appears seems to be in good spirits, but clearly disappointed of the situation. The moment when Whitfield kissed him on the cheek was really sweet! A much admired man....i hope we haven't seen the last of 'Wardy'. His 3 quarter time chat with his team mates clearly had the desired effect, as GWS incredibly managed to turn that 5 goal deficit into a win last week. Wardy's words did the trick it seems!

Just one thing I'm confused about....why does Leon Cameron refer to Ward as the Captain? Is that his nickname? Toby Greene is the team captain, so am i missing something here?!

It does mean GWS don't really have a 'proper' ruckman atm, Keiren Briggs is still some way off yet. Kingsley has mentioned bringing in a new kid, 21-year-old Nick Madden to fill in for Briggs, or maybe veteran Lachie Keefe or Riccardi/Callum to take up Ward's place possibly. GWS is getting key forward Brent Daniels back, so that's help on the scoring front hopefully. I hope GWS will be inspired to return to the form that is expected of them....bring on the Orange Tsunami! :)

Uh oh.....Hawks are up 5 goals to one in the opening quarter!

Callan Ward was co-captain at GWS along with Phil Davis from 2012 to 2019.

I’ve always admired Brent Daniels’ work ethic on the field. It’ll be good to see him back.

Val wrote: "Callan Ward was co-captain at GWS along with Phil Davis from 2012 to 2019."

I'd forgotten that! Just had a look at the line up, and it does appear the new boy Nicholas Madden will play along side Whitfield & Tom green as the ruckmen. Be interesting to see how the 21 year old fares in his debut game.

Daniels has been away too long!

And i think my 'feeling' might be coming true....just seen that first game play out.....interesting, very interesting....I'm tempted to change my Crows tip now...but i won't.

First turn-up of the round:

Tonight's result:

Western Bulldogs (Tazz) v Hawthorn Hawks (available)
1.2.8 (Q1) 5.2.32
4.5.29 (Q2) 8.4.52
7.7.49 (Q3) 10.5.65
8.11.59 (Q4) 12.9.81

The Hawks led all night - they were coming off a six day break while the Dogs, with the bye, had fourteen days between games. Freshening up didn't help. Jed had the closest margin and so wins $8.00 for Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Congrats!

I think Jed was closer Val

Thanks Mark; corrected now. I didn't see his and your tips.

What a game tonight. Fantastic advert for the game in wet weather. Crows stood up so well in final 10 minutes.
Hope it will be drier when we visit there next month with the British and Irish Lions match. It will be iteresting to see a game of Union played in Adelaide. They do not get Rugby League let alone Union but I expect their fans will turn out in full.

Thank goodness i kept my Crows tip! For a while there i did think that Brisbane had it in the bag....those final quarters eh?! I kept thinking the lions are sure to bag a goal in a minute.....but nope, all they could do was do it in ones!

ROUND 13
Sorry it's so late

Sydney Swans
Geelong Cats
GWS Giants

North Melbourne Kangaroos
Carlton Blues
Collingwood Magpies

Sj wrote: "ROUND 13
Sorry it's so late

Sydney Swans
Geelong Cats
GWS Giants

North Melbourne Kangaroos
Carlton Blues"

You've left out the last game Demons v Magpies Steve.

Last night's result:

Adelaide Crows (available) V Brisbane Lions (Jed)
0.6.6 (Q1) 2.3.15
3.7.25 (Q2) 5.3.33
5.8.38 (Q3) 8.7.55
10.8.68 (Q4) 8.15.63

Today's results:

Richmond Tigers (Philip) v Sydney Swans (Anita)
3.4.22 (Q1) 2.4.16
3.7.25 (Q2) 5.9.39
3.8.26 (Q3) 9.12.66
4.12.36 (Q4) 11.14.80

Geelong Cats (available) v Gold Coast Suns (Suzy)
2.2.14 (Q1) 0.2.2
4.4.28 (Q2) 3.3.21
6.7.43 (Q3) 4.3.27
9.7.61 (Q4) 5.7.37

GWS Giants (Duke) v Port Adelaide Power (available)
3.2.20 (Q1) 3.4.22
6.4.40 (Q2) 5.7.37
6.4.40 (Q3) 6.11.47
7.8.50 (Q4) 9.12.66

I really enjoyed the Cats/Suns game played in heavy rain down at the Cattery. Real, old-fashioned football. I don't think I've seen the Cats tackle so ferociously in a long time. Even without Bailey Smith, they are still a force to be reckoned with.

Don't know what happened to the Giants in the third quarter. They'd been really competitive up till then.

And Toby Greene copped a corked hip as well....not looking great for them next week when they face the reigning champs Brisbane. They're not at their best atm.

Watching the Tigers v Swans game was amazing for all the wrong reasons....Richmond have now broken their own record for the longest period of time without scoring a goal. Previously set at 82 minutes, they smashed that...their record now stands at 98 minutes, almost breaking the all time AFL record of 101 minutes!

Today's results:

North Melbourne Kangaroos (Steve) v West Coast Eagles (Sussex)
3.2.20 (Q1) 0.5.5
3.3.21 (Q2) 1.8.14
5.3.33 (Q3) 5.14.44
9.8.62 (Q4) 6.16.52

Carlton Blues (available) v Essendon Bombers (Val)
6.4.40 (Q1) 1.1.7
8.6.54 (Q2) 4.2.26
9.8.62 (Q3) 8.3.51
11.12.78 (Q4) 11.4.70

An exciting finish tonight. Essendon lost it in the first quarter when they were all at sixes and sevens. But, like last week against the Lions, they didn't drop their heads and just kept plugging away. It wasn't pretty but it was an honourable effort.

theDuke wrote: "Sj wrote: "ROUND 13
Sorry it's so late

Sydney Swans
Geelong Cats
GWS Giants

North Melbourne Kangaroos
Carlton Blues"

You've left out the last game Demons v Magpies Steve."

Cheers Val! I've tipped the 'Pies' now :)

Sj wrote: "Cheers Val! I've tipped the 'Pies' now :)"

Looks at oneself in the mirror.......yep i'm Duke! ;-)

Well......there have been some upsets this week, just a pity that i've chosen the wrong ones!

Today's result:

Melbourne Demons (available) v Collingwood Magpies (available)
2.2.14 (Q1) 2.2.14
4.6.30 (Q2) 6.2.38
7.8.50 (Q3) 9.3.57
10.11.71 (Q4) 11.6.72

It must have been a very exciting game - I didn't watch, I would have had a heart attack barracking for the Dees (anyone but Collingwood).

Our tipsters' ladder is as follows:

ROUND THIRTEEN (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 6 (13)
Val on 5 (35)
Anita on 5 (38)
Philip on 5 (62)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 5 (72)
SussexWelsh on 4 (32)
Suzy on 3 (15)
Tim on 3 (30)
Duke on 2 (55)

Charity donations are:
To be re-distributed at the end of the season - A$8.00 - Highest score (Hawks 81)
Jed (Great Barrier Reef Foundation)- A$8.00 (closest margin)
Jed (Great Barrier Reef Foundation) - A$14.00 (weekly winner)

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

Jed on 77 (329)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 77 (358)
Tim on 72 (315)
Val on 71 (312)
SussexWelsh on 70 (340)
Philip on 65 (484)
Duke on 63 (397)
Anita on 60 (403)
Suzy on 35 (240)

Do please check your scores!!! Jed did very well - partly courtesy of Steve missing the first two games. Footy scores were very low across the board this long weekend - maybe because of wet weather??

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.theroar.com.au/afl/afl-la...

ROUND 14

Thursday Jun 12
St Kilda Saints v Western Bulldogs (in Melbourne)

Friday Jun 13
Hawthorn Hawks v Adelaide Crows (in Tasmania)

Saturday Jun 14
Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants (in Brisbane)
Essendon Bombers v Geelong Cats (in Melbourne)
North Melbourne Kangaroos v Fremantle Dockers (in Perth)

Sunday Jun 15
Port Adelaide Power v Melbourne Demons (in Adelaide)
West Coast Eagles v Carlton Blues (in Perth)

BYE:
Collingwood Magpies v Gold Coast Suns
Richmond Tigers v Sydney Swans

If punters could lodge their tips by midnight WEDNESDAY June 11th (U.K. time) it would be a great help, although I can accept them up until 10.30am THURSDAY (U.K. time) if absolutely necessary.

Three word summary:

ADELAIDE CROWS: Finally, some luck!

BRISBANE LIONS: Mindless footy late.

CARLTON: The new HOKball.
(AI says: "Hokball" is a buzzword and informal term used to describe the fast-paced, energetic, and often chaotic style of play of the Hawthorn Football Club (AFL).

COLLINGWOOD: Play on Monday.

ESSENDON: Early woes costly.

FREMANTLE: Had the bye.

GEELONG: Ablett Cup reclaimed.

GOLD COAST SUNS: Frustrating. Need bounceback.

GWS GIANTS: Not contenders currently.

HAWTHORN: Leave Ginni (Jack Ginnivan) alone.

MELBOURNE: Play on Monday.

NORTH MELBOURNE: Take points, run.

PORT ADELAIDE: Ken (coach ken Hinkley) outsmarted them.

RICHMOND: Started well. Then...

ST KILDA: Had the bye.

SYDNEY SWANS: (Nick) Blakey finally awakens.

WEST COAST EAGLES: Just SO frustrating.

WESTERN BULLDOGS: Classic Dogs. Yuck.

Think my cumulative margin might be 270 rather 329, if I'm not mistaken Val?

Thanks for keeping me honest Jed. I use Excel to add the scores up and I've no idea where I got the 329 from! Old age I suspect. Here's what I believe to be correct:

CUMULATIVE LADDER:

Jed on 77 (270)
Sj Brooke (Steve) on 77 (358)
Tim on 72 (315)
Val on 71 (312)
SussexWelsh on 70 (340)
Philip on 65 (484)
Duke on 63 (397)
Anita on 60 (403)
Suzy on 35 (240)

Not that it makes that much difference Val, but i got a lowly 3 in that dismal round! Crows, Cats & Magpies.