AFL Finals Week 3 - Purple and Brown

The favourites came to the fore for the 2nd week in a row in the Prelims after this year's final series began with a few upsets. The good news is we have the best two teams at the pointy end of the season, which means the Grand Final should be a ripsnorter.

Hawthorn's prelim final scoreline was eerily similar to last year's 5 point win over Adelaide where it also almost kicked itself out of contention. However the win over the Cats was much more meritorious and should stand them in good stead for Satdee. And wouldn't Varcoe be spewing.

Freo on the other hand have developed a new style of play seen by no other team this year. Fanatical frenzied pressure at the ball carrier. They did it to perfection against the Swans in the first half but can they keep it up for 120 minutes against an outfit like Hawthorn?

Freo's lack of experience will tell

That for me is the big worry.  As well as their decision to wear the white clash strip instead of the purple, after the AFL forced them to wear white shorts. A white haze descending on the MCG just doesn't feel right.  Then there is the Hawks' finals experience. Whereas Freo has been a basketcase for so long and make their GF debut Satdee.
Finally how can a team with Zac Dawson win a flag.  For mine it is the Hawks by 25.

Don't forget this is your last week to win great prizes in the Uglybustards "Show Us Your Footy Finals Form" Photo Comp which closes Monday 30th September after the GF. There is a huge opportunity to win that Uglybustards T-shirt and stubbyholder that you have always craved. All you have to do is send in a finals happy snap. Any pic at all and you could win! You can Enter here on Facebook, tweet your snap with #showyourform, or email me.

Time to roll the prelim finals tapes Acropolis, then read on for the latest Uglybustards tipping results. And well done Gaz Yaaaaaablett takin Charley home for the 2nd time.

Hawks Hang on for Hooter as Kennett Curse Culled

Frenzied Freo Pile Presha on Sydney Swans

Uglybustards Tipping Comp...

Another topsy turvy week in the battle for 3rd place on the Prize Pool Podium sees Amy Jones climb from 6th and is lookin the goods with a week to go. Reigning champ Longee may not be able to have a successful title defence but can still beat Amy for the last place on the podium. Other chances are Simon Williams and Mik Barley, but they are a point in arrears and would need to rely on Amy and Longee picking the opposite team in the GF. Jack McPhee is also in the mix but playing for glory only.

The top two in the prize pool have been settled for a while. Sam Griggs crept into 41st overall on the footytips.com.au site ladder, up another 13 places from last week and still a chance to go higher. He remains 6 points ahead of our runner-up powerful, who is two points clear of non-paying punter Craig Nettlebeck.

The Lace is a clear 46 points out in front in the Margin Comp ahead of DrBB who moved back into 2nd this week. Sam Griggs dropped to 3rd but remains a comfortable 2nd in the prize pool, with a 3 to 4 goal lead over Andy and Anthony Aiello, and a 5 goal lead over Simon Williams. There'll have to be a few picks of Freo by 60 in a last ditch attempt to win.

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

In the Trivia comp there has been no movement so it looks like Rotten Ronnie may hold off Griggsy by a point for second place.

The Preliminary Finals Weekly Prize of $5 was won by Lazybastard who was 8 points off the margin finished 3rd behind David Feck'em (3 points off) and DrBB (5 points off), but was the first paid up punter.  Next week we are tipping for the final $5 of 2013.

And so we are off to the "big dance". May your 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.