The Swans are paying $1.02 to beat GWS who are $14 in head to head betting for the opening game of the season.

While the Swans vs Giants match has been deemed a one sided affair, sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson said there was plenty of value for punters who wanted to get in early on the other matches.

“History shows that all new teams struggle early on. When you add to the fact that the Swans will be out to prove that they are still top dogs in Sydney, the Giants could be for a very rough induction into the AFL,” said Anderson.

“Some of the other matches are a lot harder to pick, so punters who think we’ve got a market wrong can take advantage of the odds.

“There are usually a couple of upsets in round one, but last year’s better-performed teams including the Pies, Cats, Eagles and Blues have reportedly had good preseasons to date and have been tipped to start of the season on a winning note.”

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

2012 AFL Round 1

$1.02 Sydney Swans

$14 Greater Western Sydney

$1.27 Carlton Blues

$3.75 Richmond Tigers

$1.77 Collingwood Magpies

$2.05 Hawthorn Hawks

$1.55 Melbourne Demons

$2.45 Brisbane Lions

$1.25 Adelaide Crows

$4.00 Gold Coast Suns

$1.70 Geelong Cats

$2.15 Fremantle Dockers

$1.90 North Melbourne Kangaroos

$1.90 Essendon Bombers

$1.70 West Coast Eagles

$2.15 Western Bulldogs

$1.36 St Kilda Saints

$3.15 Port Adelaide Power

2012 Premiership winner

$3.75 Collingwood

$4.75 Geelong

$6.50 Hawthorn

$8.00 Carlton

$15 West Coast

$17 St Kilda

$19 Fremantle

$26 Essendon

$31 Sydney, North Melbourne, Adelaide

$34 Western Bulldogs

$67 Melbourne

$81 Richmond, Brisbane
$126 Gold Coast, Port Adelaide

$501 GWS

The former Carlton and Brisbane Lions full forward looks set to have a crack at an NFL punting career, however, sportsbet.com.au is offering long odds of $26 for him to find a home at an NFL team next year.

“There’s no doubt he has the natural ability to follow in the footsteps of Ben Graham and Saverio Rocca and become a punter in the NFL,” sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson said.

“If there was ever a game that suited Fev, it’s the NFL. However, we think it’s a long shot he’ll sign with an NFL team as early as next year.”

Should Fevola fail to pick up a punting contract in the NFL, sportsbet.com.au have also offered prices on a host of other possible career choices. These include coaching (senior or specialist) at AFL level at $7.00, joining the police force at $21, becoming Gold FM’s Breakfast Host at $51, joining the political ranks at $101, and signing with an NRL team at $201.

“While he appears likely to continue to be involved in football at some level, there are a few other possibilities for Fevola,” said Anderson.

“He has mentioned in the past his desire to join the police force, which we think is the strongest non-football option at $21.

“Given his work with Gold FM this year he could put his hand up to take over the breakfast hosting duties, while becoming a politician or switching codes to play in the NRL are considered very long shots,” said Anderson.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

What will Brendan Fevola do in 2012?

$4.00 Sign with a Victorian Country League Football Club

$4.00 Sign with a Melbourne Suburban Football Club

$7.00 Coach at AFL level (senior or specialist)

$21 Join the Police Force

$26 Sign with an NFL team (Fevola must sign a contract and be part of a 52-man roster)

$51 Gold FM Breakfast Host

$101 Become a Politician

$201 Sign with an NRL team

The early $7.00 favourite, Judd is now out to $9.00 for the award, while Scott Pendlebury has firmed from $9.00 into outright $8.00 favouritism to take Charlie home next year.

“The Brownlow odds for any other player facing a shoulder reconstruction would have ballooned, but we’re keeping Judd safe for the time being,” sportsbet.com.au’s Haydn Lane said.

“He missed the first three matches in 2010 before polling fifteen votes in the next five games and winning the Brownlow, so it would be folly to write a big year for Judd off just yet,”

Carlton midfielder Marc Murphy’s odds have firmed from $21 into $15.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

2012 Brownlow Medal

$8.00 Scott Pendlebury (in from $9.00)

$9.00 Chris Judd (out from $7.00)

$9.00 Dane Swan

$9.00 Sam Mitchell

$11 Gary Ablett

$13 Joel Selwood

$13 Jobe Watson

$15 Marc Murphy (in from $21)

$21 Adam Goodes

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said 90% of the money had been for the Cats this week while the injury doubt over Darren Jolly had seen punters single out Ottens as the value pick for best on ground.

“We have seen bets of $10,000 and $5000 flow in regularly for the Cats and there hasn’t been a single good sized bet placed on Collingwood yet who have drifted from $1.75 to $1.97,” Sullivan said.

“Brad Ottens has clearly been best backed for the Norm Smith Medal shortening from $41 to $26 and money is still coming for him.

“Punters obviously feel he could dominate the ruck if Jolly is out or not at 100% and the fact he can go forward and kick a couple of goals is also a big plus.”

“At this stage, Ottens is taking out four times more than any other player with the next best backed being fellow Cat, James Kelly.”

Scott Pendlebury heads Sportingbet’s Norm Smith market at $5.00 ahead of Brownlow winner, Dane Swan at $6.50 with Joel Selwood the shortest of the Cats at $8.00.

AFL GRAND FINAL

Sportingbet Australia market

Geelong $1.85

Collingwood $1.97

2011 Norm Smith Medal Winner

Sportingbet Australia market

Scott Pendlebury (COLL) 5.00

Dane Swan (COLL) 6.50

Joel Selwood (GEEL) 8.00

Dale Thomas (COLL) 10.00

Jimmy Bartel (GEEL) 10.00

Travis Cloke (COLL) 13.00

Leon Davis (COLL) 13.00

Paul Chapman (GEEL) 13.00

Heath Shaw (COLL) 15.00

Steve Johnson (GEEL) 17.00

Joel Corey (GEEL) 17.00

James Kelly (GEEL) 17.00

Alan Didak (COLL) 21.00

Luke Ball (COLL) 26.00

Harry Obrien (COLL) 26.00

Brad Ottens (GEEL) 26.00

Andrew Krakouer (COLL) 26.00

Haydn Lane from sportsbet.com.au said: “This is another one for the ‘great idea at the time’ file!”

“We thought he’d had a better season than last year and was across the line, but it seems the umpires weren’t as generous this time around.”

The bookie normally gets its early payouts correct, including paying out over $250,000 five days before the 2010 Cox Plate on So You Think to win the event, but misread last year’s AFL wooden spoon by paying out more than $150,000 on Richmond to finish on the bottom of the AFL ladder – a late season revival saw the Tigers finish one place above West Coast.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s Grand Final, there was a massive plunge on Geelong today which saw the Cats’ odds firm from $1.98 into $1.87 while Collingwood’s price ballooned from $1.84 out to $1.98.

“Collingwood were early favourites mostly because of our liability from big bets placed on them for the flag throughout the year, but recent form clearly says Geelong deserve favouritism and the market now reflects this,” Lane said.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

2011 AFL Grand Final

$1.87 Geelong (in from $1.98 Monday morning)

$1.98 Collingwood (out from $1.84 Monday morning)

Hot on his heels is former Western Bulldog Callan Ward at $3.50, while former Crow Phil Davis and the 2008 Rising Star winner Rhys Palmer are at $8.00 and $9.00 respectively.

“It seems the major danger to Tom Scully winning the inaugural Giants best and fairest is injury,” sportsbet.com.au’s Haydn Lane said.

“If he can play the majority of games he shouldn’t have too much trouble in picking up the award.”

NRL convert Israel Folau is rated a $51 outsider to win the best and fairest.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

2012 GWS Best and Fairest

$2.75 Tom Scully

$3.50 Callan Ward

$3.50 Any other player not listed

$8.00 Phil Davis

$9.00 Rhys Palmer

$51 Israel Folau

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said The injury to Lance Franklin meant Hawthorn looked gone.

“Buddy going down in the last quarter probably puts paid to Hawthorn’s flag hopes,” said Sullivan.

“Even on the remote chance he plays next week he won’t be fully fit and it’s perilous taking injured players into finals no matter how good they are.

“They will most likely start outsiders against either St Kilda or Sydney, particularly if two big men in Franklin and Bailey are missing.”

Geelong are solid $2.90 second favourites after cruising in to their fifth consecutive Preliminary Final.

2011 AFL PREMIERSHIP

Sportingbet Australia Market

Collingwood 1.80

Geelong 2.90

West Coast 13.00

St Kilda 13.00

Hawthorn 17.00

Carlton 19.00

Sydney 51.00

Essendon 81.00

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said he hadn’t seen a Brownlow plunge as big as this one in years.

“Goodes was at odds as big as $51 at the end of July and while the money has been steady for him all year punters have let go in the last week or so,” said Sullivan.

“He was still $10 at the start of September but we’ve taken close to 200 bets on Goodes alone this month including two punters who have backed him to collect $30,000 each and another bet to win $25,000.

“We’ve seen plenty of good Brownlow goes over the year but this certainly ranks as one of the bigger ones.”

Chris Judd remains the $1.80 Brownlow favourite but has drifted from $1.50 a fortnight ago.

2011 BROWNLOW MEDAL

Sportingbet Australia Market

Chris Judd [CARL] 1.80

Adam Goodes [SYD] 5.00

Scott Pendlebury [COLL] 8.00

Dane Swan [COLL] 10.00

Marc Murphy [CARL] 13.00

Matthew Boyd [WBD] 15.00

Gary Ablett [GC] 17.00

Nick Dal Santo [STK] 34.00

Dean Cox [WCE] 34.00

Trent Cotchin [RICH] 67.00

Matt Priddis [WCE] 101.00

Others 126.00 Plus

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said there continued to be a good push for the 2009 winner.

“Ablett has been backed in from $23 to $15 this week with one punter backing him to collect over $100,000,” said Sullivan.

“He’s attracted the lion’s share of the bets since the season ended and there’s still punters backing him at the $15.

“It’s hard to see him winning enough three votes but there’s plenty of money talking.”

Chris Judd remains a $1.70 favourite to win his third Brownlow Medal while Sullivan also reported strong support for Adam Goodes who has shortened from $10 to $8.50 this week.

2011 BROWNLOW MEDAL

Sportingbet Australia Market

Chris Judd [CARL] 1.70

Dane Swan [COLL] 7.50

Scott Pendlebury [COLL] 7.50

Adam Goodes [SYD] 8.50

Marc Murphy [CARL] 12.00

Matthew Boyd [WBD] 13.00

Gary Ablett [GC] 15.00

Nick Dal Santo [STK] 26.00

Dean Cox [WCE] 29.00

Trent Cotchin [RICH] 51.00

Ryan Griffen [WBD] 101.00

Others 126.00 Plus

Eade has firmed from $3.50 into $2.00 and heads the market in front of Scott Burns at $3.00 – who has himself been backed in from $7.00 – with caretaker coach Mark Bickley drifting from $2.50 out to $4.00.

“Rodney Eade and Scott Burns have clearly been the two best backed for the Adelaide job,” sportsbet.com.au’s Haydn Lane said.

“There’s also been a little support for Brenton Sanderson and Mark Neeld at longer odds, but despite being favoured early, the money has dried up for now on Mark Bickley.”

Leon Cameron, the favourite in the race to replace Rocket at the West Bulldogs, has put further distance between himself and his rivals as far as the betting is concerned.

Cameron has been $2.50 into $1.50, with Mick Malthouse easing from $6.00 out to $7.50 and caretaker coach Paul Williams drifting from $8.00 out to $10.

“Leon Cameron has been backed to the exclusion of all other candidates to take over the reins at the Whitten Oval,” Lane said.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon was not in the original market posted by sportsbet.com.au to be Melbourne’s next coach. He was installed at $17 this week after requests from sportsbet.com.au members and has since been backed into $13.

Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

(Odds from this time last week in brackets)

2012 Adelaide Senior Coach

$2.00 Rodney Eade (in from $3.50)

$3.00 Scott Burns (in from $7.00)

$4.00 Mark Bickley (out from $2.50)

$7.00 Brenton Sanderson (in from $8.00)

$9.00 Mark Neeld (in from $10)

$12 Simon Goodwin (out from $12)

$21 Paul Roos

$23 Alastair Clarkson (out from $14)

$34 Shaun Rehn (out from $21), Alan Richardson (out from $21), Nathan Bassett (out from $26)

$41 Ken Hinkley (out from $26), Blake Caracella (out from $26), Sean Wellman, Brett Montgomery, Andrew McLeod, Stewart Dew, Leigh Matthews, Dean Wallis, Peter Sumich, Ben Hart, Mark Ricciuto, Craig Bradley, Mick Malthouse, Scott Camporeale, Nigel Smart, Leon Cameron

Quote others

2012 Western Bulldogs Senior Coach

$1.50 Leon Cameron (in from $2.50)

$7.50 Mick Malthouse (out from $6.00)

$10 Paul Williams (out from $8.00)

$12 Mark Neeld, Scott Burns

$14 Dean Laidley (out from $8.00), Mark Williams (out from $10)

$17 Peter German (out from $12)

$26 Dean Wallis (out from $17), Brett Montgomery (out from $12), Scott West (out from $17)

$34 Paul Roos (out from $21), Blake Caracella (out from $26), Ken Hinkley (out from $21), Brenton Sanderson (out from $21), Alan Richardson (out from $26)

$41 Chris Grant (out from $14), Luke Darcy (out from $21), Peter Dean (out from $26), John Barnes, Brian Royal, Barry Hall, Doug Hawkins

Quote others

2012 Melbourne Senior Coach

$2.50 Rodney Eade (in from $3.00)

$5.00 Mark Williams

$7.00 Mick Malthouse

$10 Mark Neeld (in from $14)

$12 Dean Laidley (out from $9.00)

$13 Ross Lyon (not in original market, included at $17 this week, backed into $13)

$15 Scott Burns (in from $21)

$16 Gavin Brown, Todd Viney (in from $12)

$21 Brenton Sanderson

$26 Alan Richardson (in from $41), Blake Caracella, Neil Craig (in from $41), Alastair Clarkson, Paul Roos

$34 David Neitz, Ken Hinkley, Brendan McCartney, Dean Wallis (in from $41)

$41 Scott West, Garry Lyon, Brian Royal, Josh Mahoney, Leigh Matthews, Chris Connolly, Murray Davis, Adam Simpson, Gary Ayres

Quote others