It is time to make my biggest, most bold, most consequential prediction of the season.
Last week, I tipped that the Goulburn Valley League’s sole remaining undefeated team, Echuca, would prevail in its top-of-the-ladder football clash against Seymour. I was wrong.
It was the second time I have tipped against the Lions this year and it was the second time it has come back to bite me, with Seymour toppling the Murray Bombers by 12 points.
As a result, I’ll be heading down to training soon to eat a meal topped off with the hottest hot sauce I can find.
It is one of two punishments on my to-do list, alongside an upcoming early-morning swim in Victoria Park Lake after Shepparton defeated Shepparton Swans the other week.
Both of those things will be coming up soon, I am true to my word.
But in the meantime, this weekend’s games are coming up and I am about to make my biggest and boldest prediction – both in terms of what I am tipping and what it is on the line.
To put it simply, I am predicting that we will see the biggest country football upset of the century this weekend.
I am tipping that Rumbalara – winless in Murray Football League in 2023 and currently on the bottom of the ladder – will defeat reigning premier and current top side Mulwala on Saturday afternoon.
Yep – I am tipping 0-10 Rumba to come out on top against the 10-1 Lions.
I told you I was going bold.
But what if the upset of the century fails to eventuate?
What if Mulwala prevails and Rumbalara’s winless streak continues?
This week I am upping the ante to the extreme and putting the most considerable thing on the line yet – my job.
If Mulwala wins, I will leave The News.
That’s right, I’ll quit my job.
As I said, this is the most substantial, most audacious prediction yet.
If the Lions win, this column will be the last thing I write for The News.
My predictions will continue, but my time at this incredible newspaper and McPherson Media Group will end.
A new segment born this year, I have enjoyed making my bold predictions each week.
It’s been fun picking out the best, most intriguing football and netball game of the weekend, thinking of something fun and creative to put on the line and watching anxiously to see if I’m wrong.
And wrong I have been – four times have my bold predictions proved to be incorrect, proving my tipping abilities are not always flawless.
It will be sad for my time at The News and with MMG to come to an end.
I have been with the company for 18 months now, starting out at the Riverine Herald in Echuca before moving to Mooroopna in February.
As a huge sports fan, it has been a dream come true to get to watch and write about sport for a living.
I can’t think of anything better.
I’ve had the opportunity to cover more than 30 different sports over the last year-and-a-half – from arm wrestling to croquet and just about everything in between.
But most importantly, I have had the privilege to share the stories of so many amazing, extraordinary people and athletes from across the region.
I hope my stories did them justice.
So this is what is on the line on Saturday – a job that I have loved and that has literally changed my life entirely.
No biggie.
So is this my final column for The News?
We’ll find out.