Competitions Pieman 2026

[lachy]

In

 

[theAthenian]

in

 

[Viva_Loca]

I’m new but I’ve seen it done and would like to have a go

 

[Struggle]

In

 

[Floridog]

I've had a look at this and I've decided to go with it. It's already programmed for 2026.

If it had applied in the 2025 season there would have been:

• An average of 4 "mini-chumps" each week
• A max of 10 mini-chumps in any given round
• A minimum of 0 mini-chumps in any given round (that would have occurred only 3 times)
• An average bonus of 9.95 points for those who got a mini-chump
• The highest single mini-chump for the year would have been 22 points.

No Kelvin winners would have been changed, but in a few rounds a mini-chump would have vaulted someone into second or third from outside the top 3.

So the weekly impact is modest but the real value may be cumulative. That is, if someone takes five different players every week they might end up with 100 points or so extra on their season tally. For instance grassman75 would have had 6 mini-chumps worth 84 extra points over the season. That's just one that I noticed so I checked each of his weekly results for 2025. There might have been some who would have done even better out of it (but I'm not going back to check everybody's weekly results!)

Since the final margin between the Pieman winner and the runner-up was was less than 100 pts last year those mini-chump points could become crucial. It might also influence people to change their weekly selection strategy.

tl:dr
It might not make a lot of difference but it can't hurt. It might add a little sprinkle of extra spice each week.


The only thing that needs to be settled is what to call it. I'm not keen on "mini-chump" but haven't thought of anything better yet.

Any bright ideas?

Call it a fortify. It fortifies your score and it sounds like someone who has over indulged trying to say four out of five.

 

[dogwatch]

I’m new but I’ve seen it done and would like to have a go

Welcome aboard!

 

[lateniter]

I'm in, thanks again, mate.

 

[Doggies_13]

In

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Yes please. Aiming to finish under 30th this year

 

[Kermit]

I’m in again, thanks DW

 

[Curly5]

Yes please, dogwatch

 

[54Bulldog16]

I’ll give it another go, thanks DW

 

[Charlie Bucket]

In thanks DW!

 

[dogwatch]

The Pieman Rules have now been posted for 2026. You can find them here.

If you've played before there's no great need to read them because very little has changed. But if you're new to the Pieman they might be worth a quick squiz.

The only changes for 2026 are:

1. Removal of anything to do with the AFL substitute (aka "medical substitute"). Thank Dog. That was messy. However Pieman substitutes are still a thing and will be used if one or more of your team isn't part of the starting 23.
2. Introduction of the Mini-Chump (or whatever we end up calling it). That's a 10% bonus for getting 4 right out of 5 when you have selected 5 different players and when their handicap total is 80 or more.

 

[dogwatch]

Handicaps for the Brisbane game will be posted later this afternoon or tonight.

 

[Fossie 32]

Bonti
Sam Darcy
Astro
Crofty
Ed

Thanks DW

 

[dogwatch]

Bonti
Sam Darcy
Astro
Crofty
Ed

Thanks DW

And we’re off!

 

[ossie_21]

Hipwood x3
Fevola
Brown

Thanks DW

 

[dogwatch]

Handicaps Round Zip (OR)

OK Here are the early handicaps for Round 00 (aka OR).
I hope no changes will be necessary but let's see how the team selection goes. If Darcy is out or if Lewis in then obviously things will have to be adjusted. (I don't even have Lewis on my list yet!)

I'm publishing it early so you can get your head around the new season ... and also I'll be out until much later in the evening

The colour codes are as follows:

Yellow - highly likely inclusion in the 23​

Orange - a possible inclusion/some doubt​

Blue - very unlikely to be picked​

Grey - unavailable, i.e. injured or concussion protocol​

I'll publish a cut-down version after the official 23 is named (later tonight).

 

[theAthenian]

croft english naughton libba kennedy

 

[Floridog]

Darcy
Bont
Croft
English
Williams

 

[TiAn_]

Libba
Hynes
English
Croft
West

 

[TempletonTheRat]

Jones
Red
Kennedy
Freijah
English

Thanks DW

 

[ossie_21]

Naughton
Darcy
Mennedy
English
Hynes

 

[Viva_Loca]

So many to choose from!

Croft
Hynes
Freijah
Kennedy
Liberatore