While Buddy Franklin is the short priced favourite to win this year’s Coleman Medal, Adelaide Crows forward Taylor Walker is looming as a smokey according to online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au.

Initially priced at $26, the Broken Hill junior has come into $23. In a sign that the punters think this could be his break out year, he has been the second best backed pick for the Coleman with sportsbet.com.au, only behind Buddy Franklin who is favourite at $2.75.

“The only player we have taken more bets on is Buddy. The punters obviously think there is some value in Walker’s odds,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson.

“There is no doubt he has the talent and he looks to be the Crow’s main man in the forward line. The question will be over his consistency, but the punters don’t seem to worried about it as we keep taking bets on him.”

One punter is particularly confident, having $500 on Walker at $26 to collect $13,000.

Tigers full forward Jack Riewoldt has been the big drifter in the market, now $10 after starting at $6.00.

Kurt Tippett has firmed from $31 to $26 while the punters believe Ross Lyon’s arrival at Fremantle could see Matthew Pavlich spending more time in the midfield as opposed to the forward line forward line, with the multiple All Australian drifting from $21 to $34.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

2012 Coleman Medal

(Prices in brackets from November 2011 when the market opened)
$2.75 Lance Franklin (in from $3.50)

$7.00 Travis Cloke (out from $5.50)

$10 Jack Riewoldt (out from $6.00)

$14 Josh Kennedy (out from $11)

$16 Jonathan Brown (out from $11)

$18 Nick Riewoldt (in from $21)

$21 James Podsiadly (out from $15)

$21 Stephen Milne (in from $23)

$23 Taylor Walker (in from $26)

$23 Mark Lecras (steady)

$26 Kurt Tippett (in from $31)

$28 Steve Johnson (out from $26)
$34 Matthew Pavlich (out from $21)
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$251 Israel Folau (steady)