Melbourne will enter the AFL finals series flag favourite, but Geelong is TAB’s worst result after being by far the best-backed team in the second half of the season.
The Cats account for almost 25% of the entire hold in TAB’s premiership market including the five largest bets; $25,000 at $5.50 on July 11, $25,000 at $4.50 on July 23, $20,000 at $3.75 on August 5, $10,000 at $5 on July 12 and $9000 at $4 last Friday.
The Bulldogs (13.51%) and Melbourne (12.34%) are the other finalists responsible for at least 10% of the total hold, while a couple of outsiders are subjects of potential six-figure payouts.
TAB’s greatest liability in a single wager is $1800 on Essendon at $67 – for a profit of $118,800 – while Sydney was the subject of a $1000 bet at $81 before the season started and a $5000 wager at $21 in May.
The Swans have been $1.65 in to $1.60 for Saturday’s cut-throat finals against GWS ($2.25) with Essendon $2.60 in to $2.40 against the Bulldogs ($1.58). The finals series starts with Port Adelaide ($1.70) and Geelong ($2.15) tomorrow night, while Brisbane have had support ($2.25 into $2.10) to topple minor premier Melbourne ($1.74) on Saturday night.
| TEAM | % | Pre Rd1 | Highest | Lowest | Pre-finals |
| Melbourne | 12.74 | $26 | $26 (Rd1) | $3.75 (Rd23) | $3.75 |
| Geelong | 24.34 | $5.50 | $10 (Rd7) | $3.75 (Rd21) | $4.25 |
| Port Adelaide | 8.49 | $7.50 | $8 (Rd15) | $5 (Rd2) | $5.00 |
| Brisbane | 9.40 | $7.50 | $13 (Rd6) | $5 (Rd15) | $5.50 |
| Western Bulldogs | 13.51 | $13 | $13 (Rd1) | $4 (Rd21) | $11 |
| Sydney | 4.59 | $81 | $81 (Rd1) | $8 (Rd20) | $15 |
| GWS | 1.53 | $26 | $81 (Rd4) | $17 (Rd22) | $21 |
| Essendon | 1.18 | $81 | $251 (Rd8) | $26 (Rd23) | $26 |
MELBOURNE
$1000 @ $26 (taken March 14)
$1000 @ $21 (TWICE on March 27)
$3000 @ $17 (taken April 8)
$3500 @ $10 (taken April 24)
$5000 @ $4.50 (taken June 14)
GEELONG
$25,000 @ $5.50 (taken on July 11)
$10,000 @ $5 (taken on July 12)
$25,000 @ $4.50 (taken on July 23)
$20,000 @ $3.75 (taken on Aug 5)
$9000 @ $4 (taken on Aug 20)
PORT ADELAIDE
$1000 @ $9 (THREE TIMES in Feb)
$3000 @ $6 (taken on March 22)
$4000 @ $6 (taken on April 19)
$2000 @ $7 (taken on June 10)
$2700 @ $8 (taken on Aug 6)
BRISBANE
$5700 @ $7 (taken March 5)
$2000 @ $10 (May 9)
$2000 @ $5.50 (taken June 4)
$3000 @ $6 (taken June 8)
$2000 @ $9 (taken August 15)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
$4500 @ $9 (taken on April 7)
$3000 @ $9 (taken on April 8)
$2000 @ $9 (taken on April 10)
$7500 @ $5 (taken on June 30)
$5000 @ $5 (taken on July 12)
$6000 @ $4.25 (taken on July 29)
SYDNEY
$1000 @ $81 (taken on Feb 27)
$500 @ $81 (taken Mar 20)
$1000 @ $34 (taken Mar 25)
$2700 @ $15 (taken April 3)
$5000 @ $21 (taken May 3)
GWS
$500 @ $81 (taken April 14)
$500 @ $26 (taken March 16)
$500 @ $19 (taken August 13)
$600 @ $17 (taken Aug 20)
ESSENDON
$1800 @ $67 (taken April 8)
$500 @ $26 (taken August 21)
