AFL betting update: Richmond early favourites for 2020 flag

Online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au has installed Richmond as $4.50 favourites to win the 2020 AFL Premiership.

It is no surprise to see the Tigers top the early betting after their comprehensive victory over Greater Western Sydney in the AFL Grand Final on Saturday.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Richmond’s triumph is the fact they got the job done without star full-back Alex Rance, who tore his ACL in round one and missed the rest of the season.

With Rance to return, it is little wonder online bookies have pegged the Tigers as the team to beat in 2020.

Their chief challengers in the early betting are West Coast ($6.50), who bowed in the semi-finals this year after winning the flag in 2017.

Collingwood and the GWS Giants share an $8 quote, while Geelong and the Brisbane Lions are pegged at $9 having failed to reach the GF after finishing in the top two spots.

The Western Bulldogs have opened at $13 on the back of a barnstorming finish to the year, while Hawthorn are rated a $17 chance with star midfielder Tom Mitchell set to return from a broken leg.

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There was plenty of optimism around Essendon at the start of 2019, but the Bombers have slipped into the bottom 10 at $21 after another underwhelming campaign.

North Melbourne and Port Adelaide are slated at $23 apiece, with the Roos hoping for tangible improvement under a new coach and the Power needing to make an impact at the pointy end.

Two of the biggest sliders compared to this time last year are Melbourne ($26) and Adelaide ($29), who never looked like matching up to their preseason hype.

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Bookies can expect some speculative action around Carlton at $34 after their strong finish to the season, while it will be interesting to see what new management does for $51 outsiders Fremantle and St Kilda.

Also at $51 are the rebuilding Sydney Swans, although that price could shorten sharply if they land a few of their key trade targets.

Bringing up the rear at $251 are wooden spoon favourites Gold Coast, whose many problems were thrown into stark relief this year by GWS’s run to the AFL Grand Final.

2020 AFL Premiership odds

$4.50 – Richmond
$6.50 – West Coast
$8 – Collingwood, GWS Giants
$9 – Brisbane Lions, Geelong
$13 – Western Bulldogs
$17 – Hawthorn
$21 – Essendon
$23 – North Melbourne, Port Adelaide
$26 – Melbourne
$29 – Adelaide
$34 – Carlton
$51 – Fremantle, St Kilda, Sydney Swans
$251 – Gold Coast

See more AFL odds at Sportsbet.com.au