Mitchell surges to the front of 2016 Brownlow betting markets

SAM Mitchell’s blistering start to the 2016 AFL season has made a big impression with Sportsbet.com.au, which has moved the superstar Hawk into equal favourite for the Brownlow Medal at $6.

The veteran midfielder has been magnificent this season, increasing his average possession count to a career-high 36.5 a game, which has seen the 33-year-old come in almost $20 with Sportsbet to now sit as the joint favourite for the Brownlow medal with Geelong on-baller Patrick Dangerfield.

Gary Ablett is the only other man in single figures with Sportsbet.com.au at $8, while last year’s Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe sits on $10.

One of biggest firmers in the market to date is the Gold Coast’s Aaron Hall.

The Tasmanian has been in career-best form so far this season, and currently sits at $34 after starting the season at triple figure odds.

One of the biggest sliders in the Brownlow betting market has been Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury.

The Pies superstar has taken a huge tumble in the market. Sportsbet has placed the Pies’ captain at $67 to win the 2016 league best and fairest – he started as the third favourite at $12.

Hawks firm further in premiership markets

HAWTHORN has firmed even further in premiership reckoning after WilliamHill.com.au moved the reigning premiers into the shortest odds they have been all season at $4.

The Hawks lost their opening round match up against the Cats, but have since gone on to win their next three.

Brownlow medal favourite Sam Mitchell said his teammates were not sure what impact the round one loss would have on the team’s psyche.

“You can call it doubt… but for me, every game, there’s the unknown.” Mitchell said.

“We play Round 1 and you think, ‘Oh wow, we’re not as good as we were maybe, I’m not sure. I hope we’ll be all right this week’,

Mitchell believes his side cannot afford to get ahead of themselves, even after winning three consecutive Grand Finals.

“There’s a reason for doubt every week. If you’ve got your perfect team on the park then your doubt becomes, ‘Is it complacency? We should win so are the boys getting ahead of themselves?’

“No matter what position you’re in, there’s always that element of you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The West Coast Eagles are on the next line of betting with Sportsbet.com.au at $5, while Sydney and Geelong are joint third favourites with the Aussie bookmakers at $7.

The Western Bulldogs are the only other team under double figure odds at $9 to take out the 2016 AFL premiership. Injuries to Jason Johannisen and Robert Murphy have surprisingly done little to dampen the enthusiasm around Luke Beveridge’s men.

Punters abandon the Pies and the Tigers for the final 8

COLLINGWOOD and Richmond’s September chances have taken a gigantic hit in the eyes of the bookies, with WilliamHill.com.au moving both teams out to $6 to finish inside the top-eight in 2016.

The Magpies were blown away by the Demons on Sunday afternoon at the MCG – a team they had only lost twice to in the last 10 match-ups – leaving them languishing at 1-3.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he is prepared to make the tough calls at the selection table.

“We’ll be bringing in players who want to play for four quarters,” Buckley said after the loss to the Demons.

“We’ve got enough evidence now to make calls on guys, and there’s no doubt we can’t be making any compromises on the effort in the contest.

“There’s some boys who are continuing to put their prospects at risk.”

Richmond’s plight is becoming increasingly alarming for coach Damian Hardwick.

The Tigers were considered a lock for the final-eight, but after a month of football Richmond has just one win to its name – the season-opening win against bottom of the ladder Carlton.

The Tigers were torched by the Eagles on Friday night, but Damian Hardwick believes his side still has what it takes to crack the top-eight.

“It seems so far away at the moment, but as I said previously we have been in this situation before. I’m pretty confident now (of) our players and our coaching group bouncing back,” Hardwick said.