The Buddy & Shane Show

The home-and-away season is done and dusted — finals are finally here! Buddy and Shane break down the full finals draw, hail Charlie Curnow's Coleman Medal and Bontempelli's brilliance, and reflect on a difficult week for the Sydney Swans on and off the field. The boys let themselves fantasise about a Cinderella Blues premiership run, rattle through standout individual performances from Round 24, and hand out pass/fail marks to the sides missing finals — Saints, Giants, Suns, Kangaroos and more. Plus: Essendon's looming coaching call, Buddy's Young Star of the Week, and all the details on Thursday night's Legends Game for prostate cancer. Big week, bigger finals ahead.

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It's the LAST round of the 2026 home-and-away season and Buddy & Shane bring it home strong! They fly through all nine games — Saints upsetting the Suns, a massive Brisbane vs Collingwood MCG blockbuster, and the big Carlton rest debate ahead of finals. Shane reveals a wild three-way tie scenario for 4th between Brisbane, Adelaide and Hawthorn, while the boys clash over whether stars like Bontempelli, Grundy and Cripps should be rested. Sydney's Isaac Heeney gets huge wraps as "the form player of the competition," and Buddy drops his boldest Big Call yet — backing North Melbourne to knock off Sydney. Plus: salsa night at The Establishment, and a Better Beer giveaway for the best call in the comments!

00:00 – Intro: Round 24, the last round of the 2026 season

00:40 – Saint Kilda v Gold Coast (Marvel Stadium, Friday night)

01:10 – Collingwood v Brisbane (MCG) — top four implications

02:00 – Carlton v Fremantle (Marvel Stadium) — the "rest your stars" debate

04:33 – Melbourne v Western Bulldogs (MCG) — does Bontempelli return?

05:43 – Geelong v Richmond (GMHBA Stadium)

06:10 – Adelaide v GWS (Adelaide Oval) — Tex Walker send-off talk

07:03 – Port Adelaide v Essendon (Marvel Stadium) — new coach speculation

08:02 – Sydney v North Melbourne (SCG) — Isaac Heeney's incredible form

10:19 – West Coast v Hawthorn (Optus Stadium) — the three-way tie for 4th scenario

13:10 – Bud's Big Call: North Melbourne to beat Sydney

15:08 – Wrap-up and Better Beer giveaway

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Round 23 brings finals-shaping chaos as Buddy and Shane dissect Carlton's stunning turnaround under new coach Josh Fraser, a locked-in top eight, and Charlie Curnow's Coleman Medal masterclass. The boys relive a wild Hawthorn-Collingwood draw, reignite the rules debate it sparked, and pitch their own outrageous ideas for fixing AFL draws forever. Fremantle's finals credentials get the full workout — Luke Jackson's ruck brilliance included — alongside the bombshell rumour that Zak Butters and Toby Greene could both be Geelong-bound. Steele Sidebottom's legendary 373-game career gets its flowers, Buddy crowns his Young Stars of the Week, and Franklin reveals a dodgy calf ahead of the Whitten Legends match. All that, plus a first look at what's coming in the Round 24 season finale.

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Round 23 is here and the boys are locking in their tips before the finals scramble begins. Shane fancies home ground advantage for Fremantle against Adelaide, but Buddy goes the other way with his Big Call, backing the Crows' tall forward line to trouble the Dockers' defence. Richmond and St Kilda, Hawthorn and Collingwood, and a huge QClash between Brisbane and Gold Coast all get the treatment, plus Shane tips an upset for North Melbourne over Geelong while Buddy says the Cats win by four or five goals. There's a look at GWS's injury crisis and Jake Stringer's uncertain contract future, Carlton's charge continues against the Bulldogs, and Essendon's coaching search rolls on ahead of their MCG clash with Sydney. Buddy also locks in his flag favourite. Like, subscribe and drop your tips in the comments!

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⏱️ CHAPTERS

💬 COMMENT BELOW: Can Adelaide's tall forwards trouble Fremantle's defence? Is North Melbourne a genuine chance of upsetting Geelong? And do you agree Brisbane are the flag favourites?

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The boys wrap up Round 22 with finals footy in the air. Buddy reckons Josh Fraser's coaching gig is already a formality, Sam Walsh looks back to his brilliant best, and the boys turn on St Kilda over their handling of injured stars — "where's their duty of care?" Collingwood survive a short-handed trip to Perth as Nick de Cos does what Nick de Cos does, before Brisbane belt Hawthorn by 67 in a "reality check" ahead of September. Then it's the Melbourne v Fremantle classic at the MCG, a serious chat on the Geelong concussion waiver saga, and Gold Coast finally winning thanks to Touk Miller's meditation routine. Buddy's Young Star goes to Logan Morris, before the show closes on Hawthorn's forward-line succession plan. Like, subscribe and drop your tips in the comments!

🎙️ NEW EPISODES every Monday & Thursday

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📞 GOT A HOT TAKE? Send us a voice memo — best one gets played on the show: memo.fm/buddyandshane

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 — Carlton Keep Rolling: Josh Fraser's Case & Sam Walsh's Return to Form

04:18 — St Kilda's Injury Crisis & the Duty of Care Debate

09:39 — Collingwood Survive West Coast Test as Nick de Cos Shines

11:02 — Brisbane Smash Hawthorn by 67: A Finals Reality Check

14:40 — Better Beer Big Moment of the Week

14:57 — Melbourne def. Fremantle: Game of the Year at the "MCD"

18:33 — The Geelong Concussion Waiver Saga

22:53 — The Mighty Swans Find Their Mojo

24:57 — Round-Up: North Melbourne, Adelaide & the Finals Race

25:52 — Gold Coast's Bright Spot: Touk Miller's Meditation Routine

28:02 — Kia Player of the Month: Nick de Cos

29:35 — Buddy's Young Star of the Week: Logan Morris

32:41 — Hawthorn's Forward Line Rebuild: King, Lewis, Gunston & the Josh Kennedy Comparison

36:37 — Sign Off & Thursday's Big Call Preview

💬 COMMENT BELOW: Should Josh Fraser be signed up long-term at Carlton? Was St Kilda right to risk their best players? And what should Hawthorn do with their forward-line logjam?

👍 Smash like if Buddy and Crawf are calling it right.

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#AFL #AFL2026 #BuddyFranklin #ShaneCrawford #BuddyAndShane #Round22 #AFLRound22 #Carlton #StKilda #Collingwood #NickDaicos #Brisbane #Hawthorn #Melbourne #Fremantle #Geelong #SydneySwans #GoldCoastSuns #LoganMorris #AFLPodcast #FootyPodcast

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The boys charge into Round 21 - It starts with a "mini final" as Collingwood face Geelong, with Buddy declaring Nick Daicos' season equal to peak Gary Ablett Jr — maybe better. Shane goes rogue and tips a Saints AMBUSH on the red-hot Swans, the boys preview Clarkson v Mitchell in freezing Launceston ("no love lost there!"), and Shane jumps ship on the Giants live on air. Buddy officially RETIRES from tipping the Gold Coast Suns after last week's disaster — so naturally Shane picks them to end their losing streak. Then things explode: Buddy and Shane go to WAR over Richmond's future. Shane backs the Tigers to win a flag within FIVE years — Buddy says they won't win one for 15 to 20 and offers to put money on it, before both agree only one man could change everything: "Sam Mitchell is an absolute genius." And then the sledgehammer — Bud's Big Call: Adelaide to DEMOLISH Essendon by 120+ POINTS ("a dagger to the heart... mark my words") while Shane tips the Bombers to WIN. A 120-point gap between them. Monday is going to be brutal for someone. Like, subscribe and drop your tips in the comments!

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Buddy's in marathon training and the boys have a bumper double episode — the full Round 20 Review! Shane hands Nick Daicos the 2026 Brownlow ("he'll go down as the greatest Brownlow Medallist ever"), the boys marvel at Wanganeen-Milera's 46-disposal, four-goal masterclass, and Buddy unloads on the Petracca–Lombard blow-up — "it speaks about their culture."

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The boys are back with their Round 20 Preview — and Buddy delivers his BIGGEST call of the year! Shane's a full believer in red-hot Adelaide to take down Collingwood, and he's riding the undefeated Dees all the way to a Grand Final at the MCG — while Buddy nearly tips the wounded Cats before flipping at the last second. It's derby week in the West, with both boys backing Flagmantle to smack their arch rivals by 30+ and Buddy tipping Josh Treacy for a bag. The Battle of the Bridge looms as the Buddy Franklin Cup danger game, plus, "Sorry Mr Clarkson, you're done mate" — the boys tip the Saints in the battle of the teasers, the Dogs to feast on wounded Richmond, and then THE moment: after wrestling with it all week, Buddy locks in Gold Coast to travel to Melbourne and beat Carlton — declaring "the Blues are done!" Shane's on the Blues. Someone's ego is getting bruised Monday. Like, subscribe and drop your tips in the comments!

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The Dons are BACK on the winners' list, Ken Hinkley is Tasmania's first-ever coach, and the boys have a massive Round 19 to break down! From Dean Solomon's courageous call to drop McKay and his senior stars — and Buddy naming Essendon's first win the Better Beer Big Moment — to Adelaide's statement upset over Sydney at the SCG that has both boys sliding the Swans OUT of the top four. Shane unveils his full ladder predictor (Flagmantle on top!), Buddy backs Brisbane to finish second and declares Fremantle "a real threat" thanks to their key forward firepower. The King vs Lewis debate gets heated as Buddy shuts down the Ben King-to-Hawthorn talk — "too top heavy" — and reveals why you need TWO gun key forwards to win a flag. Plus, what on earth is going on with the Giants losing to bottom sides, Bud calls Richmond's performance "embarrassing, Don't miss Buddy's Young Star of the Week, the Better Beer Big Moment, the most bizarre injuries in AFL history, and plenty more. Like, subscribe and drop your tips in the comments!🎙️ NEW EPISODES every Monday & Thursday🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss Buddy's Thursday tips📞 GOT A HOT TAKE? Send us a voice memo — best one gets played on the show: memo.fm/buddyandshane

⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 — The Boys Are Training for the Legends Match!

02:23 — The Dons Are BACK! Solomon's Brave Call

03:48 — What Is Going On With the Giants?

06:08 — Adelaide's Statement Win Over Sydney

07:41 — Bontempelli Runs Riot: Has It Cost Gold Coast Their Season?

09:28 — "Embarrassing" — Buddy Unloads on Richmond

10:51 — King vs Lewis: The Great Key Forward Debate

17:15 — The Ladder Predictor: Swans OUT of the Top 4?

24:18 — Better Beer Big Moment

25:31 — Ken Hinkley: Tasmania's First Coach

33:22 — Young Star of the Week: Jacob van Rooyen

34:50 — The Most Bizarre Injuries in AFL History

38:50 — Gone in 60 Seconds: Walker, Jamarra & the Bombers

42:27 — The Wildcard Race & Who Needs a Rest

44:24 — Shane's Secret Swans Story & Buddy's Grundy Warning

46:25 — "Have Some Balls!" — The All-Australian Ruck Debate

👍 Smash like if Buddy and Crawf are calling it right.

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Spotify & Apple Podcasts: The Buddy & Shane Show

🍺 Thanks to Better Beer — proud partners of the Big Moment of the Week: http://www.betterbeer.com.au

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Buddy just missed last weeks big call with north... But is he doubling down? In this Round 19 Preview, The Buddy & Shane Show runs through every game of the round — from St Kilda's golden chance to knock off a wounded Geelong with no Jeremy Cameron (does Ross Lyon get sacked if they lose?), to a Friday night cracker at the SCG where Buddy backs his Swans against Jordan Dawson's red-hot Crows. The boys map out Zac Butters' shock path to the Brownlow, debate whether Port's injury-hit season finally goes over the cliff, and Buddy doubles down on Gold Coast — backing them to bounce back even though their own coach says they can't make finals. Plus, Buddy's brutal verdict on Carlton's season, the one-theme fix that could save Essendon, and a Big Call that leaves Shane speechless: North Melbourne to stun the rampaging Dees. Don't miss Buddy's Big Call and all the weekend tips. Like, subscribe and drop your tips in the comments!

🎙️ NEW EPISODES every Monday & Thursday

🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss Buddy's Thursday tips

📞 GOT A HOT TAKE? Send us a voice memo — best one gets played on the show: memo.fm/buddyandshane

⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 — The Mad Bagger's Run Is Over

01:00 — Geelong v St Kilda: The Saints' Statement Game

02:50 — Sydney v Adelaide: Game of the Round

06:13 — Brownlow Prediction

07:29 — North Melbourne v Melbourne

09:04 — Collingwood v Carlton

10:01 — West Coast v Brisbane

10:46 — Richmond v Hawthorn

11:31 — Gold Coast v Bulldogs

14:03 — GWS v Essendon

15:50 — Buddy's Big Call

💬 COMMENT BELOW: Can North really stun the Dees? Is Carlton's season actually done? And does Butters still win the Brownlow from the injury list?

👍 Smash like if Buddy and Crawf are calling it right.

📲 FOLLOW US

TikTok: @thebuddyandshaneshow

Instagram: @thebuddyandshaneshow

Spotify & Apple Podcasts: The Buddy & Shane Show🍺

Thanks to Better Beer — proud partners of the Big Moment of the Week: http://www.betterbeer.com.au#AFL #AFL2026 #BuddyFranklin

#ShaneCrawford #BuddyAndShane #Round19 #AFLRound19 #AFL #NorthMelbourne #Melbourne #ZacButters #Brownlow #Carlton #Collingwood #goldcoastsuns #Fremantle #SydneySwans #AFLPodcast #FootyPodcast

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