Bookmakers suspend AFL Rising Star betting after Rowell injury

AFL bookmakers have suspended the betting on the Rising Star after short-priced favourite Matt Rowell injured his knee in Gold Coast’s loss on Sunday.

Rowell was as short as $1.45 with some bookmakers to win the Rising Star after the Suns no.1 draft pick injured his shoulder after just five games last year.

Rowell had made a startling beginning to his career before his injury and would have won the Rising Star in a canter, before his season was finished.

The decision to suspend betting on the 2021 Rising Star comes as the Suns anxiously await the results of the scan on Rowell’s injured left knee, that he was helped off with against West Coast on Sunday.

Suns coach Stuart Dew told the media he is hopeful Rowell’s latest injury setback was minor and allayed fears of another long-term hiccup.

The AFL Brownlow Medal betting market has also suffered a shake-up following Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield’s report and referral straight to the tribunal following his dangerous hip-and-shoulder and head clash with Crow Jake Kelly.

Dangerfield was in the top handful in the betting for the 2021 Brownlow, but is ineligible for the award if he is suspended. Any lengthy suspension would also deal Geelong’s AFL flag chances a blow, with the former Crow one of the dominant midfielders in the competition.