GWS Giants remain AFL premiership favourite despite Round 1 loss

March 27, 2017 2:36 pm.by Todd Davey

GWS lose to Adelaide
THE GWS Giants remain the $5 favourites for the 2017 premiership at Sportsbet.com.au despite suffering an embarrassing 56-point defeat at the hands of Adelaide on Sunday.

The Crows outworked and outgunned their opponents at Adelaide Oval yesterday, but the performance was not enough to see a big change in the market for the home side.

Adelaide came in from $10 to the $9 quote for this year’s flag.

It was a disappointing start to the season for the Giants, who for the second straight year failed to win a round one contest against an opponent they were favoured to beat.

GWS coach Leon Cameron said he anticipated there would be “some players disappointed in their performance” following the shock loss.

“I’m talking about our fifth, sixth-year players that we expect more of when the whips are cracking,” Cameron said.

“They have shown they can bounce back.

“I’m confident we can address some of the issues and have one huge crack at the Suns next Saturday.”

The Giants host the Suns on Saturday afternoon where they will go in as the $1.13 favourites at Crownbet.com.au to register their first win of the season.

Although it was quiet at the top of proceedings, the big changes in premiership betting came from the bottom half of the market.

Those optimistic punters that took Brisbane at $501 prior to the season will be licking their lips after the Lions stunned the Suns on the Gold Coast to win their opening game.

Chris Fagan’s men were subsequently moved into $251 following the victory.

The Lions torched the Suns in the opening 20 minutes of the game, piling on 45 points in a withering burst that new Lions captain Dayne Beams said the win was close to the highest quality of football he has ever played in.

“Our first 20 minutes was unbelievable,” Beams said.

“I’ve played a fair bit of footy and played in some successful sides, and that 20 minutes of footy was as good as I’ve played in.

“It was a really good start to the game.”

Another firmer in the premiership market was Essendon.

The Bombers started the season as $25 outsiders for the flag at Sportsbet.com.au but were wound in to $18 following their spirited 25 point win over bitter rivals Hawthorn on Saturday night.

It remains to be seen as to whether the Bombers’ win was a result of the huge public support and the emotion surrounding the returning suspended players.

Both the Lions and the Bombers face each other in round two, where the visiting Essendon is the $1.40 favourite to back up their strong win.

Essendon coach John Worsfold said it was pleasing to see his side rally when pressed in the middle stages of the game.

“That middle 30 or 40-minute period was tough and Hawthorn got the ascendancy … but they never got too far from us, and they had to work really hard for their opportunities,” Worsfold said.

“Our boys just kept coming at them, which was great, and then to work back into the lead and run away with that was awesome.”