Round 3, 2026

A few little changes to the Squiggle API, which is used by bots and scripts who want basic data on teams, games, and scores. Because sometimes they want it very badly, and aren’t afraid to crash my site to get it.

The Event API, which is the part that gets you updated score info as quickly as possible, has been shifted to a new sse.squiggle.com.au endpoint that puts it out of the way of regular site traffic, so bots can’t sit there occupying all the site’s available connections. It is also more generous with connection limits, so more people can use it.

And the regular API has a cache in front of it, which means it’s slightly less useful for up-to-the-second info — which is fine, since it’s not the Event API — but also less likely to crash my site when a bot decides it needs to redownload my entire database over and over every few seconds.

Two more new models sneaking in just ahead of the bounce (bounce?): Holy Grail Ratings and In The Game.

That makes 28 models + 2 meta-models (Aggregate and S10) + Punters. This competition is so hot right now.

This year’s newest model is HBin, and if you look up the website, you’ll see this stands for Human Behaviour Insights. It is just a coincidence that the author’s name is Hamish Binnie.

If you believe that, you are probably in need of the kind of insights you can get from following HBin.

We’re in the final hours before the start of season 2026! We have 21 models good to go, plus a handful either putting on the final touches or having crashed and burned in the off-season. Time will tell.

You can’t develop a game all by yourself, they said. The market for video games based on Australian Rules Football is too small, they said. Don’t you have a real job you’re supposed to be doing, they said. Well HA! Check it out!

As of Aug 14, 2025, the game is now available to purchase on PC, Mac, Linux for A$24.95. If you get in quick, there’s a launch discount.

Buy Squiggle Football on Steam

Please show your support by buying the game, playing the demo, or wishlisting! And tell your friends.

Special Thanks: This game has had exactly 1 play-tester, my friend Wild Pete. I just checked and he has 208 hours played. So either he’s very dedicated or he really likes the game. Maybe both. Thanks Wild Pete! I made lots of great changes thanks to your constant criticism.

One week out! Wishlist now for launch discount.

You can now play the first two seasons of Squiggle Football on PC, Mac & Linux.

Or you can just wishlist it! Then you get notified when the full version drops with a launch discount in August, while also helping my stats. Everybody’s happy.

Squiggle Football on Steam – demo

Coming August 2025 for PC, Mac + Linux!

WISHLIST NOW ON STEAM

Don’t let the loud voices distract you from the fact that Damian Barrett has delivered three fantastic preseason ladder predictions in a row.

Since he finished dead last in Squiggle’s 2019 Rate My Ladder analysis, Barrett has improved every year to become a reliable source of preseason insight. And 2024 was his best yet, smoking not just the rest of the AFL punditry, but all the models, too.

Look at this thing! Sure, he had the Hawks last, and only got 5 of the top 8. But the top 4 are all there. And this was a tough year.

If you’re ready to hop on board the Barrett train, you can find his 2025 predictions here. Or view all collected 2025 predicted ladders from both media experts and models.

As usual, models did better than pundits on average, filling half the top 10 slots but few of the lower ones.

I have also managed to get the Ladder Scoreboard back online after it collapsed last year under the weight of Round 0 bugs. Hooray!

I’m developing a deck-building list management game, targeting an August 2025 release.

Here’s an early look!

Wishlist Now on Steam

To be notified when it releases, go wishlist it on the Steam page. There will be a public demo in mid-2025.

More details on the Steam page…