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

October 5, 2017 3:30 pm.by Michael Maguire

Outright odds and bookie updates

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