By Rowan Forster
A dog is leading the Pakenham Gazette’s footy tipping competition.
Harley Woof, a 13-year-old Labradoodle sponsored by Stihl Pakenham, has correctly picked 117 winners in the 2018 AFL season – putting 23 other local business figures and community leaders to shame.
While some suspect the canine has a natural gift, others have cited a thin playing field as a driving force behind his excellence.
Mr Woof’s rivals made some woeful predictions for round 20, with R.J Sanderson’s Roy Sanderson and Workplace Essentials’ Vickie Williams tipping Port Adelaide to pull off an upset in a match between Geelong and Richmond – despite being in another state.
According to Luke, Mr Woof’s media manager, his tips are recorded based off the number of times he barks.
“One bark for the home team, two barks for the away team,” he said.
Mr Woof was one of just five tipsters to predict Essendon’s victory over Sydney several weeks ago – proving the pooch can pick a dark horse.
He has become somewhat of a local celebrity, with customers at the Bald Hill Road business regularly asking after the match tipping phenomenon.
“We have people come in here specifically to see him,” Luke said.
“He’s got a real gift – he studies the matches closely.”
Mr Woof is currently enduring a lengthy battle with arthritis, but that hasn’t stopped his knack for picking the winners.
