Punters tipping 2018 AFL Finals charge for Dew’s Suns

GOLD Coast’s latest coaching appointment has already had a big effect on betting for the 2018 AFL Premiership season.

The Suns announced on Tuesday that Stuart Dew would take on the position vacated by Rodney Eade earlier this year.

Dew, a former premiership player with both Port Adelaide (2004) and Hawthorn (2008), has spent the past eight years as a development and strategy coach at the Sydney Swans.

Even though the Gold Coast finished second from bottom in 2017 and will lose Gary Ablett Jr. in the off-season, punters are backing them to make a huge move up the ladder next term.

The Suns are $11 outsiders at Sportsbet.com.au to reach the AFL Finals in 2018, yet they have drawn more individual bets than any other team in the competition.

However, online bookmakers are confident that not much will change at Carrara.

Not only are the Gold Coast paying $2.75 to record the fewest wins of any team, they also share an $81 quote with the Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne on the last line of premiership betting.

“Best of luck to Dew but by all accounts he has an uphill task to try turn things around at the Suns and the odds very much reflect that,” said Sportsbet’s Will Byrne.

Gold Coast Suns 2018 AFL futures

$2.75 – Least wins

$11 – Top eight

$21 – Top four

$81 – Premiers

Markets courtesy of Sportsbet.com.au