In a nail-biting finish that came down to a single 50/50 call, Western Australian Lachlan Doig has been crowned the champion of The Game's AFLW footy tipping competition, walking away with $10,000 in prize money thanks to a last-minute decision to trust his initial instinct.
The Stressful Final Call
Doig admitted to turning his phone off in the tense minutes before the crucial West Coast-Carlton match, resisting the urge to change his tip despite mounting doubts. Having selected Carlton earlier in the week, he found himself second-guessing as game time approached.
"It was definitely stressful, mainly on that Friday with the West Coast-Carlton game," Doig revealed. "I was really weighing up who to go with as that was sort of the close game of the round."
The tipper, who competed under the name WharfieTime, noted that Carlton's five-day break with travel and the return of Eagles star Ella Roberts to the West Coast lineup had him questioning his original choice. With just ten minutes remaining before the bounce, he made the decisive move to switch off his device and stick with his gut feeling.
The Winning Strategy: Happiness Insurance
Doig's victory wasn't just about one lucky call - it was the result of a carefully considered approach he describes as "happiness insurance." The successful tipper demonstrated remarkable objectivity throughout the competition, particularly when it came to his home team.
"I am able to separate club loyalty from tipping," he explained. "If I tip against Fremantle and they lose it stings a bit less than if I tipped them and went down. I always like to build a bit of happiness insurance in that scenario."
This emotional detachment proved crucial to his success, allowing him to make rational decisions rather than heart-driven choices that often plague less successful tippers.
From High School to $10,000 Victory
Remarkably, this year marked Doig's return to footy tipping after a long hiatus. "This is the first year I've done football tipping since high school," he shared. After focusing on fantasy football for years, he rejoined the tipping scene through a work competition for the men's AFL season and decided to continue with the AFLW competition.
His consistency paid off handsomely, with Doig finishing as the AFLW's top tipper with 84 points - level with second place but securing victory through a superior margin. The win came after a late charge that saw him take over first position heading into the final round of the season.
As for the prize money, Doig has practical plans. "I've just bought a new car, so the money will go straight on that," he said. The West Australian tipper now hopes to continue his winning streak into the summer cricket tipping competition.
The victory serves as validation for both his strategic approach and his last-minute decision to resist overthinking. Doig's success story demonstrates that in footy tipping, sometimes the best move is to trust your initial judgment and walk away from second-guessing.
