Crows and Giants locked at the top after impressive wins

ADELAIDE and GWS are the joint $4 favourites at Sportsbet.com.au to win the 2017 premiership after recording very different wins in round nine.

The Crows hammered the Lions at the GABBA by 80-points to snap a two-game losing streak, while the Giants left it to the last second to win in the most unlikely fashion.

Everytime GWS wins at the moment it just puts them closer to the flag. #moralsthisyear

— RICK MORRIS (@RICKMORRIS3) May 20, 2017

Both teams are one game clear of the third-placed Cats on 28 points, but the Crows’ superior percentage – almost 20 more than the Giants – places them at the head of minor premiership betting at the $2.25 quote via Sportsbet.com.au.

GWS is on the second line of betting at the $3 mark.

Giants coach Leon Cameron conceded the Tigers “should have won the game” following the last-gasp win.

“We didn’t play well. That’s the first thing,” Cameron said.

“Secondly, Richmond should have won the game. They were better than us throughout the game and they’re playing some great footy.

“It’s a ruthless game. We sit here and celebrate a three-point win, and we were in front for a minute out of 120.

“It’s a ruthless game. Richmond were the better side on the night.”

The Crows conversely hammered their opponents, and Adelaide coach Don Pyke was pleased his side was able to respond positively after back-to-back defeats.

“There was some good signs there,” Pyke said.

“We brought a couple of new players in and we saw a couple of guys continue to play good footy and return to play good footy.”

One player that lead the way was midfielder Rory Sloane.

Sloane – who had been criticised for his inability to deal with a close-checking player – racked up 31 touches and was one of the most important players in the heavy win.

@BarronVonCrow Sloane in the Brownlow votes tonight you reckon?

— Paul (Spurs 0-3) (@Convo_23) May 20, 2017

The influential performance saw Sloane firm into $5.50 at Sportsbet.com.au to win the 2017 Brownlow Medal.

The Crows coach believes the hard working on-baller got the better of his tagger on the night.

“I thought he clearly won that battle from where I sat,” Pyke said.

“He had over 30 possessions, nearly 20 contested (19) and he was influential for mine on the game.

“We always said with Rory, it was probably adapting to the change and the new focus of taggers coming to him.

“He learned a lot over the first two weeks and he was able to put that into practice tonight.”

Of the teams outside the eight, the Magpies were the ones that made the biggest impression in the finals betting market.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said his club is “not ready to throw the towel in” after their stunning second half comeback against the Hawks on Saturday night.

The Pies firmed from $6.50 at Crownbet.com.au into the $4.25 quote to play finals in 2017, and Buckley believes his players are committed to salvaging something from an ordinary opening third to the season.

If Collingwood make the finals, we’ll win the flag #backbaby

— Frankie Ravida (@frankravida) May 21, 2017

“The players are clearly still invested,” Buckley said in the aftermath of his team’s 18-point win.

“The players are clearly not ready to throw the towel in.

“No-one at the club is and you might have questioned that 15 minutes into the first quarter, but clearly when the question was asked they responded in the affirmative,”

The Collingwood coach was also full of praise for his captain Scott Pendlebury, who was pivotal in his side’s win.

“He was critical. His class continued to shine through as the game wore on.”

The Pies’ skipper remained steady at $51 via WilliamHill.com.au to win this year’s Brownlow Medal.