Round 24 Preview: The End of Home/Away is here

by HAT Footy Tipping's own Robbo

Well this is it.

Thursday 7th March was the first game of the 2024 season, and after this upcoming weekend the home and away games are completed and the season will be over…..for ten teams anyway.

Whose going to win the flag?

Whose going to finish top four?

Whose even going to make the eight?

Last year’s premiers won’t be playing in the finals. Who saw that coming? I shouldn’t be surprised. The same thing happened to Geelong last season, and Collingwood premiership hangovers are hard to shake.

This season’s flag is wide open and up for grabs. It’s there for the taking. Everyone is falling over themselves. As much as I hate to say it, I still have a little itch about the Blues. The win against the Eagles yesterday was huge, and provided they knock over the Saints on the weekend I think they could do some real damage in the finals with a weeks rest and Curnow, McKay and others to return for finals. God I hope I’m wrong.

Collingwood and Melbourne say good bye to 2024 this Friday night in a game that the AFL would be wishing they could change to Sunday afternoon, so a meaningful game could be the Friday night prime time viewing game. Who wins? Who really cares? A wasted year for both teams.

Geelong and the Eagles on Saturday afternoon in Geelong. Despite their inconsistent form and dropping a few games at home lately, the Cats will demolish a weak liver Eagles team who barely gave a squeal against Carlton’s VFL team.

Richmond v Suns. Who cares, but a great chance for Damien Hardwick to catch up with old mates.

Hawks and North Melbourne in Launceston. Hawks are in red hot form and should win easily. Look out whoever gets the Hawks in the finals.

Brisbane v Essendon. Lions easy. The Bombers have the bags packed and the Billabongs on and are heading straight down to Surfers Paradise after this game to start their end of season frivolities.

Sydney v Adelaide. Swans won’t drop this one at home.

Dogs v Giants. This is the game of the round, the Dogs are looking at potentially a top four finish depending on other results – unlikely but nevertheless possible.

Carlton v St Kilda. I just can’t see the Blue dropping this one. Or should I say Pat Cripps dropping this one.

Fremantle v Port. For a side that were top four a few weeks ago, the Dockers are every chance to miss the finals. They’ve been disappointing…again….for a club that rarely delivers when it counts and I expect Port to win (speaking of clubs that never deliver when it counts).

Finally, if you are looking for something to do on Sunday morning at 9:30am, head to Prospect Park in Launceston for the cut throat preliminary final between Prospect Hawks U12 Gold and North Red in the NTJFA. This is it, there is a spot in the Grand Final at UTAS Stadium on the line and it will be on for young and old. Especially the young (they are Under 12’s after all). Keep a special cheer reserved for the little bloke wearing Number 17 for Prospect…….Grand Final spots on UTAS Stadium don’t come around often and he wants one!

Thank you everyone for again supporting and participating in HAT Footy Tipping in 2024. This competition is getting more and more difficult to run with numbers declining, and we really do run it on the whiff of an oily rag. Please make every effort to get to your local end of season bash. You’ve paid you money, so why not get along and have a beer or a Shirley Temple with fellow punters?

We really hope to see you all again in 2025 to keep this long running competition going.

Floreat Pica.

Robbo