Both Hawthorn and Adelaide have been tipped to secure home preliminary finals, starting as favourites with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au for their week one finals matches against Collingwood and Sydney respectively.
The Hawks have been priced at $1.42 against Collingwood ($2.85) while the Adelaide versus Sydney match appears likely to be a closer encounter, with the Crows favourites at $1.65 and the Swans $2.25.
”There is so much on the line in the first week of the finals but the Hawks and Crows finished first and second on the ladder for a reason. Obviously the home ground advantage is huge for the Crows so they deserve to start favourites,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson.
Home ground advantage is expected to play a key role in the remaining finals matches as well, with the Cats priced at $1.30 over Fremantle ($3.55) and West Coast short priced favourites at $1.25 at home against the Kangaroos ($4.00).
In premiership betting, Hawthorn has continued to shorten, in from $2.20 to $2.10. Adelaide is now second favourites, in from $8.00 to $6.00, with the Swans have drifted from $5.50 to $7.00.
Markets courtesy sportsbet.com.au
AFL Finals Week One
Hawthorn $1.42
Collingwood $2.85
Adelaide $1.65
Sydney $2.25
Geelong $1.30
Fremantle $3.55
West Coast $1.25
North Melbourne $4.00
Premiership winner
(Prices in brackets from Friday 31st August)
Hawthorn $2.10 (in from $2.20)
Adelaide $6.00 (in from $8.00)
Sydney $7.00 (out from $5.50)
Collingwood $7.00 (steady)
Geelong $7.50 (in from $8.00)
West Coast $13 (steady)
Fremantle $41 (in from $51)
North Melbourne $67 (out from $51)