Bendigo footy tipping queen Peg Coates wins fifth consecutive title at Mercy Health Bethlehem

Yet the impressive feat was almost over before it began.

Peg originally wanted to give the competition a miss this year.

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Her son talked her into taking part just before the first round, pointing out that the competition would give her something to focus on as the worldwide coronavirus pandemic locked down nursing homes and isolated residents from family and friends.

Even in her time of triumph Peg remained modest about her latest footy tipping achievement.

"I enjoy it, but it's a lot of luck," she said.

The lifetime Collingwood supporter is officially the most successful footy tipper in Bethlehem's history, celebrating the title of the most consecutive wins.

The secrete to that success is simple.

"A lot of thought and hard work," Peg said.

She has inched out fellow footy tippers in multiple close contests to claim some of her five wins.

She won last year's competition by two points with a score of 126.

In a high-scoring 2016 competition she ended just one point in front with a total of 140.

Peg is blind and she makes her tipping picks by listening avidly to the wireless and television throughout the week.

She is tipping Richmond to take home the flag in Saturday night's Grand Final showdown.

Despite her dominance of the footy tipping competition, Peg said there were a few surprises this year, especially during the volatile finals season.

Her biggest shock of the year came two weeks ago when her beloved 'Pies were bundled out of the finals in embarrassing fashion against Geelong.

Collingwood kicked just one goal in the first three quarters of the game.

"It was very surprising and very disappointing," Peg said.

Peg will listen to the grand final and is now turning her attention to the spring racing season, which she also follows closely.

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