Can O’Donovan launch the Jets into A-League contention?

BESART Berisha is the bookmakers’ favourite to finish the 2017/18 A-League season as top goalscorer.

The Melbourne Victory striker has claimed the honour twice before, and Sportsbet.com.au rates him a $5 chance to do it again this term.

Berisha’s credentials are peerless in Australian football, but punters are throwing most of their money behind a Newcastle Jets newbie.

Although best known for a headbutt in December 2015 that landed him an eight-match ban, former Central Coast Mariners hitman Roy O’Donovan has received a third of all money wagered on the A-League Golden Boot market to date.

The Irish import, who shares a $17 quote with Adelaide United’s Baba Diawara, is reported to have turned down several offers from Aussie clubs before opting to join the Mariners’ arch-rivals this year.

But can O’Donovan lift the Jets from the wooden spoon to title contention?

Newcastle are paying $21 for the A-League title in a market dominated by defending champions Sydney FC ($3) and the two Melbourne clubs.

It appears much more likely that Ernie Merrick’s men will finish bottom again ($5.50), although they could face stiff competition from Wellington Phoenix ($3.10) and the Central Coast ($3.30).

“The punters very much agree with the odds and it’s hard to go past Sydney FC repeating their double success of last season,” said Sportsbet’s Will Byrne.

A-League top goalscorer

$5 – B Berisha

$6.50 – Bobo

$8.50 – O Riera

$9.50 – R McCormack

$12 – M Maccarone, R Vargas

$14 – B Fornaroli, R Krishna

$15 – M Bridge, A Keogh

$17 – B Diawara, R O’Donovan

(More quoted)

A-League Grand Final winner

$3 – Sydney FC

$5 – Melbourne Victory

$6.50 – Melbourne City

$9.50 – Western Sydney Wanderers

$12 – Perth Glory

$13 – Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar

$21 – Newcastle Jets

$36 – Central Coast Mariners, Wellington Phoenix

A-League wooden spoon

$3.10 – Wellington Phoenix

$3.30 – Central Coast Mariners

$5.50 – Newcastle Jets

$10 – Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar

$15 – Perth Glory

$18 – Western Sydney Wanderers

$41 – Melbourne City

$91 – Melbourne Victory

$101 – Sydney FC

All markets courtesy of Sportsbet.com.au