A hearty congratulations to SEAN CALLEC on winning the Yalumba Football Tipping Competition in season 2008 with 131 points out of a possible 176. It was a truly remarkable effort, given that most of the so-called pundits of the game all finished around the 120 mark. Sean, the footy administrators, here at the winery, will be in touch very soon and once we have your address and personal preference of vinous tippling, will set about organising a very special winners prize for your efforts.
It is also my signal honour to announce your elevation from humble player in the team of 2008 to skipper of the Yalumba side for season 2009. You join an eclectic group of past skippers, some of whom still continue to play and others who have totally disappeared from the change-rooms. There is absolutely no need to mention them all by name but I will nonetheless, Mathew Smith, Nicholas Skinner and Daniel Leonardi to name but a few. Maybe it is the fear of failure, the inability to make it two in a row or a lack of steely resolve and determination but time alone will tell whether Sean Callec has the ticker.
Your team in 2009 will be Travis Watson, Vicki Rippon, Rob Skipper, Marina Jansz, Gail Pond, Chris McQualter, Paul Hitchens, Paul Giannakis, Antony Green, Grant Halliday, Andrew Billows, Brian Clarke, Colin Dunsford, Glyndon Drewett, William Allen, Alistair Walsh, Peter Horsnell, Carl Jansz, Drew Ashton, Sharon Rozycki, Troy Helsdon, Sophie Moore, Tim Nardella, Alan Pettigrew and this year's skipper, who has been steady all season, Andrew Yeaman. Congratulations to you all, especially those who have been capped many times before and those who have achieved the dream for the very first time. Something suitably vinous will also be despatched in your general direction in the not too distant with which you can salute your heady achievement.
Previous skipper's performances in this season for those in our ranks obsessed with statistics include Vince 'Crazy' Crase on 115, Tim 'The Chef' Oorschot on 113, Mary 'The Bantam' Billows on 117 and best finisher on 119, the skipper of the famous 2005 side, Jeff 'Templestowe' Mickan. Well done all!
And finally for the records, Geelong by 50 points at least, thankyou one and all for entering into the spirit of the new look methodology of tipping and to Santa's little helper, Tanya 'Shorty' Gattermayr for her tireless and feeless overseeing and custodianship of the entire comp, THANKYOU too.
That's it then, well done everyone from first to last, see you next winter, keep safe over summer and remember Yalumba is the wine of choice for all discerning football tipsters. Farewell, Plonky.