At first glance, there’s nothing especially remarkable about Clement the pig.
The four-year-old Wessex saddleback is a bit over a metre long and has a red-and-white coat, which makes him look a bit like a Sydney Swans mascot, that has started to go grey with age.
But his owner, South Gippsland farmer Trevor Mack, jokes Clement has a unique talent.
On January 8, Mr Mack put Clement’s abilities to the test during a live radio interview with ABC Gippsland’s Breakfast program.
He had laid out 18 feed buckets, each bearing the names of the different AFL teams, in a bid to pick this year’s premier.
The bucket Clement feasted from first would win this year’s grand final.
Trevor commentated the affair on air, as Clement made his way to the feed bucket bearing the Sydney Swans logo.
On his way to the Swans’ bucket, he knocked over the one bearing Brisbane’s name.
The two teams will face off in the grand final at the MCG on Saturday.
Mr Mack said he and Clement were excited to see the Swans and the Lions get over the line in the preliminary finals.
“I’ve got a bit of a leaning towards Brisbane Lions and Clement, obviously being red and white, is a Sydney Swans supporter,” he said.
It is not the first time Clement has predicted the outcome of an event.
He successfully predicted his local MP, Russell Broadbent, would be returned at the 2022 federal election using the same method.
Clement the “psychic” pig predicted in 2022 that his local MP Russell Broadbent would be returned at the federal election. (Supplied: Trevor Mack)
Clement in good company
Clement is not the first animal to have success predicting outcome of elections or sporting events.
A “psychic” saltwater crocodile named Speckles from the Northern Territory predicted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would win the 2022 federal election.
And in 2010, Paul the Octopus shot to global fame after successfully predicting the winner of each of Germany’s seven matches in the 2010 World Cup, as well as the tournament’s final.
A Sydney win on Saturday would allow Clement to take his place among the successful animal oracles.
But for now, Mr Mack joked he would be happy if Clement could conjure up some winning lottery numbers.
“I’ve been trying to get some lotto numbers out of him, but he can’t count,” he said.
“So I’m not sure how I’m going to get those numbers. I might have to lay those out in buckets and see where he goes.”
