mmg.com.au

John Coghlan has the background to be a leading Goulburn Valley Football League tipster this year.

Mr Coghlan, 66, played two VFL games for South Melbourne under coaching legend Norm Smith in 1969.

He chaired the GVFL in 2008 and is part of the newly formed AFL Goulburn Murray Commission.

The Shepparton retiree said he had not entered the Metricon GVFL tipping competition for the $10000 first prize.

‘‘My five kids and 14 grandkids would all be lining up for a share, so there wouldn’t be much left for me,’’ he said.

‘‘I entered because I think it’s an excellent way to promote local footy.

‘‘Generally, people are avid readers of footy pages and scores and have an opinion on who will finish where.’’

Mr Coghlan said he would use his extensive GVFL knowledge and study each club’s player recruits and departures for this year to do his weekly tips.

He tipped last year’s top four at the end of the regular season — Tatura, Rochester, Mooroopna and Shepparton United — as leading contenders for this year’s premiership.

The Sydney Swans fan used to organise an AFL tipping competition at Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE.

AFL tipping among his family is keenly contested.

‘‘The kids always win,’’ he said.

‘‘That’s part of the deal of getting kids into footy.

‘‘My grandkids can tell me the ladder, the fixture, the conditions — they are right into it.’’

Entries for the Metricon GVFL tipping competition cost $25, with the winner earning $10000, second $1000 and third $500.

The News will run weekly leader updates to tell readers how close, or open, the competition is during the season.

Visit www.sheppnews.com.au and follow the links to register. Terms and conditions are also available online.