Melbourne City are expected to kick off their premiership defence in fine style tonight at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium against Brisbane Roar.

The champs are hot $1.48 favourites to get the new A-league Mens season off to a flyer and are commanding 80 percent of the money in their match against the Queenslanders.

City are also $3.50 favourites to go back-to-back and capture their second A-league crown.

In other news:

• Sydney FC are $2.05 favourites to win the Derby against the Wanderers on Saturday night
• Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is $6 second pick behind Jamie Maclaren ($3.75) to win the Golden Boot

A-LEAGUE MENS GRAND FINAL WINNER – TAB Odds

$3.50     Melbourne City

$5           Sydney FC

$6           Melbourne Victory

$9           WSW

$12         Macarthur FC, Perth

$15         Adelaide, Brisbane

$19         Western United

$26         Newcastle

$34         Central Coast

$51         Wellington

% IN TERMS OF HOLD (Grand Final Winner market)

47%        Melbourne City

12%        Sydney FC

10%        Melbourne Victory

8%          Newcastle

ROUND 1 – H2H PRICES

$1.48     Melbourne City

$4.75     Draw

$6.50     Brisbane

**Bets of note: $1,500 @ $1.52, $2,000 @ $1.48 on City

$3.40     WSW

$3.70     Draw

$2.05     Sydney FC

$2.60     Western United

$3.60     Draw

$2.60     Melbourne Victory

$2.30     Perth

$3.60     Draw

$2.90     Adelaide

$2.50     Newcastle

$3.50     Draw

$2.80     Central Coast

A-LEAGUE TOP GOALSCORER 2021-22

$3.75     Jamie Maclaren

$6           Daniel Sturridge

$7           Bruno Fornaroli

$8           Adam Le Fondre

$11         Aleksandar Prijovic, Bobo

$13         Tomer Hemed, Ulises Davila

$15         Andrew Nabbout, Gary Hooper, Tomi Juric

$21+      Others