High-flying Geelong the new AFL flag favourite after hot start
GEELONG is the new $4.50 favourite for the 2016 premiership at Sportsbet.com.au after its impressive 27-point win over the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The Cats moved past perennial premiership fancies Hawthorn ($5) and Sydney, which is at $6.50.
The match was Brownlow Medal favourite Patrick Dangerfield’s first visit back to South Australia in the blue and white hoops.
The $3.75 elect did play in his regular, self-assured style, but Geelong coach Chris Scott was still happy with his 33-possession outing.
“He didn’t have his best game … but he clearly had a lot of the ball,” Scott said.
“He probably didn’t break out into space as much as he can, but we have got pretty high standards for him, don’t we.
“He had 11 tackles and I know numbers aren’t everything, but he was pretty strong in tight. He was important for us.”
“He didn’t shy away from anything and he stood up when it counted.”
Dangerfield’s Cats sit in second place on the ladder after the comfortable victory and given their percentage is over 17% more than the next best team, Chris Scott’s men look are the in-form team in AFL right now.
Scott said the team will not be getting too excited despite only dropping one game so far in 2016.
“It’s a nice way to start, but it doesn’t guarantee anything,” he said.
Geelong’s healthy percentage and irrepressible form has prompted Sportsbet to move the Cats into $1.90 to finish the season on top of the ladder and $2.10 just to make the Grand Final.
2016 Premiership odds
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Geelong – $4.50
Sydney – $6.50
West Coast – $7.00
North Melbourne – $8.00
GWS – $8.00
Does Buddy have the Coleman in the bag?
Lance Frankin’s sensational form in front of the sticks has seen WilliamHill.com.au move the Swan forward into $1.95 to win the Coleman medal.
Buddy was unstoppable on Saturday night, booting five goals despite going head-to-head against All-Australian full back Alex Rance.
The 29-year-old has kicked four or more goals seven times this season.
Frankin’s lowest return in the goals tally in 2016 is two, placing him alone at the top of the goals tally at 34.
Sydney captain Jarrad McVeigh believes Franklin is in career-best form.
“He’s had some unbelievable years but his high level performance and the way he goes about it is unbelievable this year,” McVeigh said.
“It’s great to see, it’s great to watch.”
The dual-Coleman medallist is four majors clear of Gold Coast forward Tom Lynch, who is on the second line of betting at $5.50.
Like Franklin, Lynch has managed to kick goals in every game this season, kicking at least two majors in the first nine weeks of football.
The big firmer in the market is West Coast forward Josh Kennedy.
Last year’s Coleman medal winner had been consistent throughout the season, but not quite as prolific as Lynch or Franklin until his five goal burst against the Saints in the first quarter of the Eagles’ big Sunday night win.
Kennedy is now the $6. third favourite for the Coleman medal in 2016.
Coleman medal odds
Lance Franklin – $1.95
Tom Lynch – $5.50
Josh Kennedy – $6.00
Jarrad Waite – $10.00
Josh Jenkins – $17.00
Jeremy Cameron – $21.00
Eddie Betts – $23.00
Dynamic Don Darcy Parish’s Rising Star odds halved after a sparkling return
Essendon young gun Darcy Parish’s Rising Star odds continue to fluctuate over at Sportsbet.com.au, who have now moved the platinum haired dynamo into $6.00 to win the award in 2016.
Parish – who was rested last week against the Swans – had slipped to $12.00 in the betting, but after another impressive game which saw him gather 24-disposals, the 18-year-old is now the third favourite for the award.
The number five pick in the 2015 draft started the season as $21.00 outsider to win the award before the start of the season, but after the WADA sanctions were imposed on Essendon in wake of the 2012 supplements scandal – meaning he would be asked to play out the majority of the season – the young Bomber’s odds were cut dramatically.
Another mover in the market was Greater Western Sydney’s Jacob Hopper.
There was real doubt as to whether last season’s pick seven would debut this season, but after amassing 32-disposals in his first outing against the Suns on the weekend Sportsbet have been forced to move the young Giant into $11.00.
Injured Carlton defender Jacob Weitering and classy Melbourne on-baller remain the joint favourites for the 2016 Rising Star award at $5.00.
Christian Petracca – $5.00
Jacob Weitering – $5.00
Caleb Daniel – $7.50
Jacob Hopper – $11.00
Clayton Oliver – $16.00
Blake Acres – $21.00
Toby McLean – $26.00
Callum Mills – $26.00
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