AFL Results R23 - Blues do a Bradbury

As well documented on Twitter, the Blues did a Bradbury last week thanks to Hirdy & co, then almost threw it away in a thrilling weekend of footy where the permutations experts were going haywire.

Malthouse does a Bradbury

There was Ross Lyon keeping half his team in cotton wool and expecting the Cats to easily put Brisbane away. He was almost made to look silly by forfeiting a home final when the Lions scared the bejeezus out of both the Cats and Blues supporters. The Lions should've taken the points to temporarily nab 8th spot but for Ryan Lester's shot being touched on the line. At this same point in time the Power had jumped the blues booting the 1st 3 goals and looked well and truly home and hosed by midway in the 3rd quarter, leading by 39 points. While the unlucky Lions wouldve been feeling sick and sorry for themselves, this paved the way for the Crows who were taking on a decimated Ducks team at Subi, meaning they only had to win by a few goals to bridge the % gap Carlton had on them. And Norf were waiting in the wings on Sunday, needing a win over Collingwood which they duly delivered in a game where both teams wore teflon the tackle count was so low.  But somehow the Blues came back as Port ran out of puff, and yet still the Blues were incredibly lucky Broadbent's shot hit the post with seconds remaining.

Norf, the Crows, the Lions and Carlton all showed they would've put up a better show than a emotionally shot and dispirited Essendon in the finals. It was just a matter of which one.

Let's take a look at the AFL's top ten moments of the weekend, featuring the boundary umpie from 1979 who assisted Eddie Betts with a goal of the year nomination, and Jeremy Howe's usual array of screamers. One day he's gonna jump clean outa the stadium.

Roll the tape Oligarkis, then read on for the latest in Uglybustards tipping results.

AFL Results R21 - Freo Firm Favourites To Top Table

Get on your nearest AFL Ladder Predictor - the Fremantle Dockers can finish top. Yes that's right, and you heard it first here on Uglybustards.  All it takes is Hawks to lose to Norf and Swans, Swans to scrape home against the Cats and Hawks, Cats to lose to Swans then beat Brisbane, and for Freo to thrash Port and St Kilda.  This puts Freo on top, same points as Swans but with a healthier percentage. The top 4 finishes up Freo, Swans, Cats, Hawks with a couple of very interesting Qualifying Finals in week one of the finals series.

Ladder Prediction R21

The bottom half of the 8 is also looking very interesting. Richmond should beat Essendon and the Giants comfortably, keeping its percentage above Collingwood who face the Ducks and Norf.  The Dons will probably stumble into 7th with six losses on the trot, with Carlton and Port to play off in what could well be an Elimination Final at Aami Stadium before the real thing happens.  The winner will most likely play the Tigers, which I'm sure they'd prefer over Collingwood.  The Pies should pumble Essendon in the other Elimination Final as the Dons scandal-plagued season splutters to an end.

What's your prediction?

On to the highlights tape and Cyril celebrates the start of the EPL with some exquisite soccer skills, he played the oval ball as it were round, beat two defenders and got past the goalie to slot a major. Casboult's wasn't too bad either except he was offside.  Roll the tape Zenon, then read on for the latest in Uglybustards tipping results.

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.

AFL Results R17 - Ablett in doubt with Leather Poisoning

As Rex Hunt used to say regularly about God; "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABLETT!!!!"
Another incredible performance by one Gary Ablett jnr to down the 'pies, sew up the Brownlow, and this week he plays his 248th game this weekend drawing level with his old man's tally. At least the Blues finally face a team coming off a high instead of on the rebound. Although how that affects the little maestro in Ablett and his ridiculously talented charges O'Meara, Prestia et al remains to be seen.

In other round 17 games Richmonds Jake King took 18 of the shortest steps in the book before kicking truly against Freo, Norf's Lindsay Thomas showed the Blues he couldn't be tackled in a telephone box, and St Kilda's Jack Steven showed Port a clean pair of heels to boot a magnificent major in a riveting last quarter where Justin 'The Hoff' Westhoff got the Power over the line at the death.

All this and more on the the round 17 highlights reel. Flick the switch Aesop. Read on for the latest in Uglybustards tipping results.

AFL Results R13 - Brisbane Burst Brad's Bubble

Joined the injury list meself this week getting me hand caught in the meat shredder. Muriel from the typing pool's done the honours. Never stopped me from playin the 62 GF so wont stop me now!!

Uglybustard v meatshredder

What a classic round of footy considering only 5 games were played. Brad Scott was handed a flag in his 1st year of coaching by a team he admitted coached themselves. On the weekend there came a time when that team needed a cluey coach to stop momentum building into an unspeakable loss. And Brad Scott was exposed. Badly. What moves did he make to stop the rot? What message did he send out via the runner? With his team continuing to play-on with seconds left, a point up and in possession, they lost the 4 points when it was theirs for the taking.  You gotta do more than sit there in "restrained fury". You gotta actually make some moves son. Makes you think what would've happened if Neeld had've had a sliding doors moment with Scott - who would be on the scrap heap and who would have a flag?

More strange was how the Lions' 8 goal last quarter was kick-started, literally, by the ump (yes, the man in green, what do they call them these days, boogie instead of maggot) getting in the way of a Stevie J miskick that rebounded off his shin into a magnificent goal assist as Brisbane took it down the corridor and slotted it from CHF.  37 Supercoach points to the ump for that little effort. Geisch still on holidays?  Too scared to return no doubt.

Kurt Tippett made a dream return that soon turned into a nightmare, booting a major in the 1st minute only for the Swans to capitulate to Port in the other upset of the round.

The Lions and Power victories make the final 8 race more interesting, and while it was a relief to not have to watch my beloved Blues get overrun for yet another "admirable" loss, they now have some new rivals for 8th spot.  Round 23 Port v Blues at Alberton could decide both teams' fate for 2013.

Roll the tape Stavros.  And check out Tyrone Vickery's mark.

AFL Results R19 - Eade for Power & Spot Prize #6

A big week of footy off the field sees Prime-arse sacked, little Libba get done for ecstasy, and Buddy in a car smash, where the speedster may've T-boned the other car. But back to Port - while Chocko might have been romantically linked to a return to Alberton, it seems Rodney "Rocket" Eade may get the job if Port Adelaide can get their footy department in order. Meanwhile Buddha Hocking coaches the Power for the next four weeks and has Hawthorn first up, the team that smashed em by 165 pts last year. Things can't get any worse for Port, or can they?

Last week's spot prize #6 was so incredibly difficult that no-one got it right. Read on down below for your chance to win a prize.  The crucial clue can be found in the AFL video review solution.

On to the highlights before I puke: