PUNTERS COULD BE ON THE MONEY WHEN BUCKING THE TREND
Announcement posted by Betstar 29 Aug 2012
Alan Eskander, Managing Director of Betstar, has declared the 2012 AFL season as the most unpredictable in his company’s six year history, with punters confident current trends are there to be bucked.
This season looks likely to see two unique results for punters coming to fruition; a Brownlow medalist from a non-Finals playing club, and possibly an AFL Premier from outside the top 4.
“Not since Shane Crawford in 1999 has the winner (of the Brownlow) been from a club outside the top eight, but really it is difficult to see it being awarded to anybody outside the current 3 favourite this year,” Eskander said.
“Trent Cotchin ($5.00), Gary Ablett ($4.00) and Jobe Watson ($4.50) have been heavily backed by punters who, like we, feel that their individual performances outweigh their club’s inability to qualify for the Top 8.”
“When Essendon were hot, they were red hot, and Cotchin has starred in his side’s 12 victories and their many narrow losses. As for Gary Ablett? Well the man is a genius and a ball magnet, and still clearly the most talented player in the competition.”
Amidst a season where Eskander has seen a marked increase in the number of punters wanting to get a piece of Brownlow action, Cothcin in particular has been attracting a lot of interest. The gun Richmond midfielder has an unbeatable lead in the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year Award, and was priced as high as $51 to win the Brownlow as recently as three months ago.
“One punter has spread $19,000 on Cotchin over 7 outright bets, from $9 into $4.75,” explains Eskander. “The same punter has also spread another $12,000 over 5 different Cotchin/Premiership Doubles; if the Swans win the flag, he will have done very well as he got on at $42 with a sizeable outlay. It is fair to say that if he (Cotchin) gets up for the Brownlow Medal, our punters will be well and truly on the winning side.”
The Premiership Market has seen comparable attention, with clubs all throughout the Top 8 being seen as value bets at different stages of the season.
Current ladder leaders Hawthorn ($2.25) were as high as $7, and attracted big bets at that price including $8,000 last November; they have also been backed at $11.30 to the tune of $5000 in an AFL/NRL Double with Manly.
Interstate fancies Sydney ($5.25) & Adelaide ($8.00) were as high as $34 and $51 at different stages of the season, with a Watson/Sydney double giving a $36,000 return to one punter if it lobs and a Pendlebury/Adelaide double resulting in a windfall of $94,200 for another.
But it is the sides from 4th-6th who have punters believing that, even if they finish outside of the Top 4, they can go the whole hog and be the first team since Adelaide in 1998 to win from outside the top echelon.
West Coast ($11) have drifted from as little as $6, and punters are snapping up the juicy odds, backing them in from $14 in the last week. From a reasonably small outlay, one punter stands to collect $22,000 if the Eagles lift the cup in both codes, backing West Coast into Manly into the already victorious Queensland State of Origin side.
Collingwood ($6.50) were backed with $10,000 at $4 in February, and have fluctuated with every scandal; from Cloke’s contract to Swan’s suspension. The Pies dominating the headlines has had a significant effect on the market. But while the odds have fluctuated, the money just keeps coming for the biggest side in the competition.
One punter is hoping that there is something in the water around the Lexus Centre/AAMI Park precinct, standing to earn just under $60,000 if Melbourne Storm and Collingwood both salute.
Defending champions Geelongare currently $8 despite being in 6th place on the ladder, a reflection of the constant support that they receive and the high esteem in which they are held.
“For the first time this Millennium, the AFL is a lot less predictable come business time,” said Eskander. “We are loving the nature of the season; we can’t decide who will top the individual and team perches. There is great value for punters out there, and they are lapping it up.”
The AFL Minor Premiership will be paid out on Monday, with Hawthorn ($1.25), Sydney ($5.50) and Adelaide ($6.00) the only clubs still in contention; the Hawks can basically wrap it up with a win on Friday night, with one punter standing to win $78,000 after a $12,000 Pre-Season stake, if that happens.
For full Betstar markets on the AFL Premiership and the Brownlow Medal, including our Brownlow Medal Round 10 Leader and Brownlow Medal Match-Ups, head to betstar.com.au or betstar.mobi
For further information or interview requests, please contact:
Pete Fairbairn, PR & Events Coordinator, +61 424 349 011 OR pfairbairn@betstar.com.au
AFL BROWNLOW MEDAL MARKET
| Player | Price |
| Gary Ablett (Gold Coast) | $4.00 |
| Jobe Watson (Essendon) | $4.50 |
| Trent Cotchin (Richmond) | $5.00 |
| Scott Thompson (Adelaide) | $11.00 |
| Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) | $13.00 |
| Josh Kennedy (Sydney) | $14.00 |
| Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) | $17.00 |
| Dane Swan (Collingwood) | $17.00 |
| Dayne Beams (Collingwood) | $23.00 |
| Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) | $26.00 |
| Kieren Jack (Sydney) | $51.00 |
| Joel Selwood (Geelong) | $51.00 |
AFL PREMIERSHIP MARKET
| Club | Price |
| Hawthorn | $2.25 |
| Sydney | $5.25 |
| Collingwood | $6.50 |
| Adelaide | $8.00 |
| Geelong | $8.00 |
| West Coast | $11.00 |
| Fremantle | $51.00 |
| North Melbourne | $55.00 |