The final round of the AFL season saw some high drama but few households would have been as tense as John Clarke’s with the $50,000 prize as The Game’s top tipper on the line.

Heading into the very last game of the home and away season, John was one correct tip away from $50,000 thanks to TABtouch and couldn’t bear to watch Fremantle’s clash with Port Adelaide.

“I was two in front heading into the final round and I was trying to work out what the guy in second was trying to do which is basically impossible,” Clarke told The West Australian.

“I picked the first six favourites and then it came down to the Sunday games and I lost the first two which meant it came down to needing Port Adelaide to beat Fremantle.

“I was pacing around the room and the garden my blood pressure was through the roof as my wife kept telling me updates.”

Adding to the drama was the Dockers’ finals hopes on the line.

Funnily enough, my wife’s a Fremantle supporter so it was very tense but I think the $50,000 softened the blow of them missing the finals.

“Funnily enough, my wife’s a Fremantle supporter so it was very tense but I think the $50,000 softened the blow of them missing the finals,” he said.

Ultimately Clarke took the top prize through a mixture of smart tipping and a little bit of luck, revealing he didn’t think he was really in the hunt until a round of upsets went his way.

“Normally I’ve got a pretty good feeling about 90 per cent of the results and then the other 10 per cent I go for the upsets,” he said.

“Early on the season I got on a run of getting eight or nine for about three weeks and suddenly I was up to 13th.

“Then I had a weekend where I got all my upsets and suddenly I was up to third and I turned to my son and said you know maybe we can have a go at it.”

Clarke said the prize money will be used on a well-deserved holiday.

“I’ve got some beloved friends in Sydney that we’ve been meaning to see but the finances haven’t been there so we’ll definitely be going on a long overdue trip,” he said.

With the AFLW season now underway, there is another $10,000 up for grabs thanks to Complete Home Filtration, as well as $500 on offer every round for the week’s top tipper.

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