Hawthorn soar into top eight as crazy AFL finals race continues

After another incredible round of AFL footy, Hawthorn have surged into the top eight while plunging in premiership betting.

Online bookmakers had the Hawks as $34 outsiders for the flag heading into their round 22 clash with Carlton at the MCG on Sunday.

Now, after thumping the injury-hit Blues by 74 points, Sam Mitchell’s men are paying $13 to spring what would be an enormous upset.

Carlton, meanwhile, have slid from $9 to $21 in outright betting with top bookie Neds.

Having sat second on the AFL ladder after round 19, the Baggers are now ninth and facing the very real possibility of missing finals altogether.

In the other game on Sunday, Adelaide halted the Western Bulldogs’ surge towards September with a 39-point win at home.

While the Crows are out of the running, the Doggies have gone out from $6 to $11 in premiership betting.

Fremantle are another big drifter with top AFL betting sites, blowing out from $12 to $21 following their narrow loss to Geelong on Saturday.

The Cats have gone the other way, firming from $13 into $8 after climbing back into the top four.

The GWS Giants have also climbed up the market, shortening from $9 into $6 after their comeback win against Brisbane at the Gabba.

The Lions have dropped out of the top four as a result, yet they remain joint premiership favourites at $4.50 odds.

They share that quote with the Sydney Swans, who snapped out of their recent funk with a dramatic come-from-behind victory against Collingwood on Friday night.

That means the Magpies’ title defence is all but over, with Craig McRae’s men now paying dreamer odds of $251 to win the flag in 2024.

Also at that price are Essendon, who will need a miracle to make finals after their one-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night.

In the battle for the wooden spoon, Richmond remain odds-on at $1.10 following their heavy defeat to St Kilda on Sunday.

North Melbourne ($5.50) are still a chance to end up with the most losses in 2024, however, as their failure to finish the job against West Coast on Saturday leaves them just one win ahead of the Tigers.

AFL R22 fixtures & results

Friday, August 9

• Sydney 13.11.89 — Collingwood 12.14.86

Saturday, August 10

• Brisbane 8.16.64 — GWS 13.4.82
• North Melbourne 14.13.97 — West Coast 15.12.102
• Fremantle 9.8.62 — Geelong 10.13.73
• Essendon 12.14.86 — Gold Coast 13.9.87
• Melbourne 7.9.51 — Port Adelaide 7.11.53

Sunday, August 11

• Carlton 5.8.38 — Hawthorn 16.16.112
• Richmond 7.9.51 — St Kilda 15.9.99
• Adelaide 17.9.111 — Western Bulldogs 9.18.72

AFL 2024 Premiership betting odds – Round 22

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