1. Get yourself involved in a tipping comp. Better yet – join our tipping AFL tipping comp! If we get a certain amount of people signed up we’ll have a cash prize and it’s FREE to join!
2. Sign up to AFL Dream Team and follow the boys Dream Team Tips and desperate attempts to try and better each other. We’re still looking for a few more leagues to join so if you have a league that needs filling – let us know in the comments below!
3. Get involved in the $100 AFL Betting Challenge. Pop $100 into sportingbet read our $100 AFL Betting Challenge guidelines and see if you can take the crown and be the 2011 AFL Betting Challenge Champion!
4. Create a prediction post! Matty P posted an excellent example of a prediction post a few days ago. These sorts of posts are a must BEFORE the season begins so you can look back and gloat or deny you ever wrote it.
5. Have season-long wagers with your mates. Example – Matty P and Beno have a bet going for 2 cartons for person that finishes higher in our DT league. Matty P and Sarge have a bet where if Cats finish top 4 Sarge owes Matty P $20 and if Daisy Thomas makes top 10 in brownlow Matty P owes Sarge $20. We’ll have more of these up somewhere on the site as the season progresses.
6. Follow the Footy High boys on twitter and facebook and even YouTube!
7. Find a few stars to follow in the social media world. We’ve got a AFL in social media page in progress but we’ve set up lists on twitter where you can follow all the AFL players you barrack for on twitter.
8. Pick out what AFL TV Shows you want to watch in 2011. We’re hoping to also showcase some of the AFL shows and podcasts that are over the internet so stay tuned to our AFL on TV page for more of that!
9. Check regularly on footyhigh.com. It’s going to be a very exciting year!
10. Put on your team colours and CHEER!!

What do you do to prepare for the footy season?!

Enjoy the 2011 season. May your team have great success!

*In Brisbane around Grand Final time the weather starts to really dry up and you can feel a hot summer coming up. It’s a great time of year!

While the NAB Cup really doesn’t mean anything it’s a great chance to see the up and coming kids that are going to rule the competition in the next few years. What sucks is that if your team is knocked out first round, you don’t get a chance to see your team play. Solution – have 3-4 weeks of practice matches that are televised on networks that would love to showcase the AFL. Or stream it all online. I know a few clubs are streaming the NAB Challenge matches for supporters to see so that’s great. More of that!

With that little rant out of the way let’s get stuck into the tips and bets for Round 3 of the NAB Cup! 2 games, 2 nights. Let’s GO!

NAB CUP ROUND 3 FIXTURE

NAB Cup Round 3 Tips

NAB Cup Round 3 Bets/Results

NAB CUP ROUND 2 FIXTURE

NAB Cup Round 2 Tips

NAB Cup Round 2 Bets/Results

Along with our tips we’ll also be placing our bets and results for each round in here. We’re doing a NAB Cup $30 mini-betting challenge and mini-tipping competition to get things warmed up for the real season ahead.

Also, rather than continue to create new posts for each game/bet/week of the first round of the NAB Cup – we will continually update and edit this post as new tips and bets come in. So bookmark it!

NAB CUP ROUND 1 FIXTURE

NAB Cup Round 1 Tips

Sarge – 10/18

Crows, Dees, Crows (2)
Blues, Pies, Pies (3)
Hawks, Freo, Freo (0)

Dons, Saints, Dons (2)
Swans, Swans, Suns (2)
North, North, Cats (1)

Matty P – 11/18

Crows, Dees, Crows (2)
Tiges, Pies, Pies (2)
Hawks, Dockers, Dockers (0)

Dons, Saints, Saints (2)
Swans, Suns, Suns (3)
Cats, Dogs, Dogs (2)

Beno – 11/18

Crows, Port, Crows (1)
Blues, Pies, Pies (3)
Eagles, Freo, Freo (1)

Dons, Saints, Saints (2)
Mighty Swans, Mighty Swans, Suns (2)
Cats, North, Cats (2)

Winchy – 13/18

Dees, Dees, Crows (3)
Blues, Pies, Pies (3)
Hawks, Freo, Freo (0)

Brisbane, Saints, Saints (1)
Swans, Suns, Suns (3)
Cats, Dogs, Cats (3)

NAB Cup Round 1 Bets/Results

Sarge

$3 on Crows/Dees/Crows Multi – FAIL

$2 on Hawks (V Eagles) – FAIL

$5 on Freo (V Eagles) – FAIL

$2 on North (V Cats) – FAIL

$3 on North (V Dogs) – FAIL

$5 on Cats (V Dogs) – WIN

Total after Round 1 of NAB Cup: $18.25

Beno

$5 on Crows/Dees/Crows Multi – FAIL

$5 on Crows to take out 1st pool – FAIL

$20 on Pies to take out 2nd pool – WIN

$5 on Saints to win the 4th pool – FAIL

Total after Round 1 of NAB Cup: $29.40

NAB Cup 2011 Tips and Prediction Posts:

Port to beat the Bombers by under 39 points @ $2.60 – Yes it’s in Melbourne, the only reason I can see why the bombers would be favourites. They beat a pathetic hawthorn the week before and the dees still have a lot of trouble with their defense. To be honest it wouldn’t surprise me if the Power got up by over 39 but because the bombers are favs I’m tipping Port by under 39. P.S. I need new recruit C.Cornes to really kick ass this week in my Dream Team.

Hawks to beat the Eagles @ $2.35 – Yes, it’s at subie but the eagles have been pretty bad and there doesn’t seem to be any sign on or off field that they’re going to turn it around. Meanwhile this week all the heat has been on the hawks who I honestly believe will come out firing. Franklin playing fully fit is the worry and they’re still without their captain. Also the ruck is a worry too with big Nic Nat and Cox coming back to form (I sort of feel like I’m talking myself for a weagles win now but I’ll stick with it! ) However – they’re a proud club and can be nasty when they want to be. I predict a nasty hawks side to get one back and keep the media at bay. In all honesty though, if they lost again it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest

Freo to beat Lions by under 39 @ $3.25 – I can’t believe Lions are huge favourites here. Still without Merrett and now Maguire suspended their backline will struggle a bit. They’ll need a fully firing Browny and Fev to win this one but I just think the run of Freo will get them over the line. I hope Lions win but the dockers are just looking too good at the moment and at those odds they’re too good to refuse. Would be a great game to go to!

Swans to beat Cats by under 39 @ $4.25 – Delicious odds and again I’m doing my usual routine of betting against my beloved cats. I can’t see either team winning by over 40 and I give the Swans a chance on current form. I still go by my tip last week that from the head I think the cats at home will be too strong for the swans and the cats should take it out in a close one. Having said that, they are juicy odds and it will be devestating if we lost, especially against Sydney for certain reasons (ie putting up with Beno for the rest of the year over a H&A win against the cats) so a few dollars in my pocket will make up for it only very very very very slightly.

If I were going to put a multi on I’d slap it on port and freo double. Sorry Matty P. Lions need to do something to gain my respect back. Your return from the states may just help them!

I believe Matty P and myself had our first wins in the $100 AFL Betting Challenge. Beno is still yet to participate but have been given a good word he will be up and raring to go within a week. He’s got money and internets coming through so I’m hoping we see the bad the sad and the ugly side of Beno on footyhigh real soon

Round 3 is just hours away from starting. I’m tipping it’ll be a tipsters nightmare this week, a lot of 50/50 games. Shall be very interesting. Bring it on!

So many questions but the biggest question of all lies on today’s blockbuster at the MCG – Geelong VS Hawthorn. I’m being my usual skeptical self and am putting on a 5er on the Hawks under 40 points currently paying $3. This bet means either Matty P or I will come out with a win (finally) in the $100 AFL Betting Challenge. Don’t worry though, I’m barracking hard for my mighty Catters and nothing would please me more than topping off the Hawks. Yes, 2008 still hurts and will probably hurt to some degree for the rest of my life. It’s a safety bet and you’ll see me placing a lot more of  these when the cats play games against the big guns.

The boys are coming over this afternoon to get our footy and drink on, should be a ripper of an afternoon. Sort of has a September feel to today so hoping for a special game and some footy banter.

I’m just running through what other bets you can place and thought I’d share some thoughts.

Most Disposals

Sam Mitchell looks like great value at $5.50 but not against all conquering mighty captain Ling. He’ll keep Mitchell to around 15-25 disposals today, would be very surprised if he cracked over 30. Depending on where Hodge is he may collect him it all depends on who Ling goes to. Ablett is probably going to get the most disposals and has reasonably good odds of $2.75. He has ripper games against the Hawks. I like these odds so much I’m going to put $3 on Ablett for most disposals at $2.75. Add to the fact that it’s the son of God’s special weekend and he IS the son of God so he’s bound to have a cracker!!

First Goal

There’s some fairly good odds around. It’s pretty much a lottery for first goal but I reckon Byrnes or Mooney are a good pick for first goal at $13 and $8.50.

Most Goals

Most goals not surprisingly Franklin is no1 at $4.75. I really like Byrnes but maybe he’s getting too much attention as of late and he’ll be respected a little better than previously. Byrnes is paying $13 for most goals. Personally I’d rather put a punt on him for first than most goals. Roughy is $7.50 for those playing at home.

So that’s it. Beno has just arrived. Let the afternoon commence!!

Anyway, onto the purpose of this post. I’m having another punt! After a bad start to my $100 AFL Betting Challenge I’m taking my punting at sportingbet to the next level and taking a stab at a multi bet.

The Punt

The multibet: $5 on Hawks by under 40 (VS Bulldogs) / Kangaroos to win (VS Fremantle) @ $3.72

Justification

• Hawks have a point to prove from a rather large hangover last year – I think they’ll win the NAB cup.
• Buddy and Roughead >Old mate Barry Hall
• Freo away from home = bad freo
• Kangaroos just beat the cats, they looked pretty good

I think it’ll be a cracker of a game tonight, can’t see either team winning by over 40. Looking forward to a drink with the boys and talking footy. Footy is back baby (just about) PUMPED!

P.S. If you want to participate with us or just get involved click on sportingbet banner below and sign up to an account. Remember you must be over 18 and gamble responsibly! It’s just for fun. We’re not wagering any more than $100 for the entire year!

So to kick it off, I’m placing a fiver on Collingwood to knock off the Saints by 25+ @3.20.

The reasoning behind it is pretty straight forward – the Pies are just about at full-strength, while the Saints are missing a few top flight midfielders, and with Collingwood having an apparently ripping pre-season, I expect them to run over the underdone Saints in the second half. Expect to see Jolly run amok against old man King and Ball to have a real dip against his old club.

Think you can do better? Then hit that banner baby and get involved.