AFL round one wrap – Buddy & Mitchell star to start the season

WE’RE away for season 2018 in the AFL and already several players have made their mark to start the new campaign.

A pair of former teammates almost single-handedly won matches for their respective teams, which saw the online bookmakers shift the duo right into individual medal contention.

Let’s take a look at the big plays of the weekend.

Sydney teams surge to the top of premiership betting

It was a great weekend for the two NSW teams, with both Sydney and GWS recording strong wins to start the season.

The Swans put together a consummate professional performance to hold off a fast-finishing Eagles outfit by 29 points at Optus Stadium while earlier in the day, Sydney’s cross-town rivals smashed the Bulldogs in the nation’s capital.

The Giants showed no mercy against a lacklustre Western Bulldogs outfit, smashing them by 83 points at Manuka Oval. It was a thoroughly dominant win that put the rest of the competition on notice.

The wins saw the teams assume the top-two positions in premiership betting with online bookmaker Crownbet.

Sydney sits at the head of affairs at the $5.50 quote while the GWS Giants are on the second line of betting at $7.

Mitchell’s half century puts him in Brownlow contention

Tom Mitchell has just broken the AFL record for number of disposals in a match with his 54th possession. #LeatherPoisoning #AFLHawksPies #7AFL pic.twitter.com/CkmTF8DKFH

— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 24, 2018

The cricket might be done and dusted for early 2018, but Tom Mitchell raised the bat on Saturday night after notching up an incredible 54 possessions in Hawthorn’s strong win over Collingwood at the MCG.

The gun on-baller has made it his business to dominate Collingwood since making the shift from Sydney, amassing over 50 possessions against the Pies on two separate occasions – the only AFL player in history to do so.

The brilliant game saw Mitchell, who opened at $15 to win the AFL’s highest individual honour – firm even further in the Brownlow medal betting market.

The 24-year-old has shifted into the $9 mark at Neds to win the 2018 Brownlow Medal.

Buddy’s eight shoots him to the top of the Coleman betting

Enjoy all of Lance Franklin’s eight goals from Sydney’s strong win over the Eagles👇 pic.twitter.com/gQVmrZOdCh

— AFL (@AFL) March 25, 2018

Sydney Swans superstar Lance Franklin was already a hot candidate at Sportsbet to win a fifth Coleman Medal, but an eight goal opening round has seen the spearhead firm into outright favouritism.

Buddy tore the West Coast Eagles apart on Sunday afternoon, helping guide the Swans to an opening round victory in the first AFL match at Optus Stadium.

Sportsbet has Franklin at the $2.50 mark to head the goal kicking tally for the entire AFL.