AFL Results R19 - Footy Gods Decide Final 8

There I was sitting comfy in the knowledge Adelaide were up by 20 points with just five minutes on the clock, a win that would keep the Blues in the hunt for the final 8.  Nek minut its only eight points, but with 90 seconds to go with the ball in their forward line the Crows looked safe. Then came the moment.

The clouds parted and lightning shot from the sky over Aami Park in the shape of a Port Power thunderbolt that struck the ground right on the point of the ball where Monfries' kick landed, a centimetre from crossing the behind line, and, guided by the hand of Thor The Thundergod, the ball did a more jagged right angled zig zag than Milney's stray bounce that cost the Saints the 2010 GF, but this time somehow it found its way through the big sticks, covering at least 5 metres to do so.

The new Dominator

Cue Chad Wingard, the new millenium's version of The Dominator, for the coup de grace and the Crows had done a Norf, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Except Brad Scott would have asked for the roof to be closed.

Nothing can stop Port Power making the finals now.  The Footy Gods have ordained it. I think that covers every cliche.

While there's a 2 game gap between 8th and 9th, the battle for the flag has really opened up among the teams in the 8. Richmond walloped Hawthorn for the second time in succession, the Cats lost yet again to a team outside the 8, the Bulldogs pushed the Swans all the way, Collingwood hit their straps, and Fremantle took Carlton apart at the seams. With Freo's run home they're a great chance for top 2 and a home final, possibly two, and a relatively easy path to the MCG on the last satdee in September. But don't worry, being Freo they are sure to stuff it up.

Great to see the Giants get their first win for the season, even if it was against the basketcase of the comp in the Dees.  Roll the tape Agapitos and read on for the latest in Uglybustards tipping results.

Uglybustards Tipping Comp...

Sam Griggs has gone ballistic, streeting the opposition to lead by a whopping 6 points on the Tipping Ladder this week, a record lead in Uglybustards Tipping history at this stage of the season. He tipped 7/9 in a round of upsets, and is incredibly just 3 tips from the overall lead out of almost 500,000 tipsters on the Footytips.com.au site, sitting in 128th spot but right in with a chance to win the Xbox 360 Kinect. Uglybustards have not had an overall Footytips.com.au winner since yours truly won the NRL comp in 2001, there were only 15,000 tipsters in those days and strategy was easy, just tip the opposite of Roy Masters.

The battle for the minor placings is well and truly on in earnest with places changing on a weekly basis. Billycat kept his lead of one point in 2nd spot, Simon Williams slipped from third to 4th while Arnold Layne made a big leap from 6th to 3rd. Another big mover was powerful from 11th to 6th. After a slow start to the season this consistent performer who has recorded a runners-up and a 4th in the past two seasons now sits tight behind Andy who is in 5th place.  The margin will play an important part with scores so close.

In the Margin comp the upset by Norf over Geelong didn't affect the cool professional that is The Lace who kept a 3 goal lead over  DrBB, herself moving up two places into 2nd. Glen mcphee held 3rd, while carnswans moved up from 7th to 4th, but out of these 4 only The Lace is in the prize pool. Quokka and Sam Griggs are 5th and 6th overall, and 2nd and 3rd in the prize placings, Quokka having made a meteoric rise from 10th last week.

More details on the Tipping Ladder page if you scroll down to the Margin ladder.

In the Trivia comp it is going to go right down to the wire as Griggsy made up one point on me over the last three rounds.  There is only 5 points the difference after round 23 and Griggsy better bring his A game to the finals series as he has only 4 games to win the round the world trip with a million bucks spending money. Gonadbreath is a distant but creditable 3rd, and appears to have fended off the challenge of Rotten Ronnie at this stage.

To join the heart-thumping Trivia comp, login to footytips.com.au then go to http://www.footytips.com.au/tipping/afl/trivia.

The Weekly Prize didn't go off this week with so many upsets. We're up to $10 for next week.

Good luck in Round 20, may the tipping Gods go with you.
Uglybustard.

Disclaimer: these posts are the work of an Ugly Bustard late at night after the odd tsipouro or three and are prone to contain erroneous errors.