Is it just me or has this summer dragged on forever? It seems like way too long ago that Richmond FC (yeah, I’m still coming to terms with it as well) were lifting the AFL Premiership Cup. Cricket is almost out of the way, and with the mickey mouse footy in the form of AFLX and the JLT Community Series done and dusted, we are ready to launch into the 2018 AFL season before offering AFL betting tips all season long!
The beacons were lit last season, and BeforeYouBet fans called for aid after a rough season by resident AFL tipster ‘Drop Punta’. Myself, 'Punting in Danger' responded to the call for a few weeks as fill in and I'll be back again this season for my maiden stint as resident. See BeforeYouBet’s preview and tips for the 2018 AFL Season below.
2018 AFL Ladder Prediction
Like Drop Punta has in the past, we’ll keep it simple to start and present the AFL Ladder Predictions for 2018. By no means do we expect to get this ladder anywhere near perfect, but we think the general positioning of the teams could be a good guide, minus the smokey that comes from nowhere ala Richmond in 2017.
1 – GWS Giants
2 – Adelaide Crows
3 – Sydney Swans
4 – Geelong Cats
5 – Port Adelaide Power
6 – Essendon Bombers
7 – Richmond Tigers
8 – Hawthorn Hawks
9 – Western Bulldogs
10 – St Kilda Saints
11 – West Coast Eagles
12 – Melbourne Demons
13 – Fremantle Dockers
14 – Collingwood Magpies
15 – Carlton Blues
16 – Gold Coast Suns
17 – North Melbourne Kangaroos
18 – Brisbane Lions
So what are the few big factors that we can extract from that (very early) ladder prediction? For starters, we aren’t buying into the Melbourne Demons hype. Nearly every expert in the country has them inside the top eight this season and a large portion of them have Melbourne as high as the top six. Sure, their young list and their progression over the past few seasons hints that they will be on the up once again this season, but so will everyone else.
They’ve picked up Jake Lever from Adelaide and Jesse Hogan could go through the season without injury (unlikely in our opinion), but there are just so many good teams in the AFL this year, and we think they miss the top eight once again.
TIP: Melbourne to miss the top eight - $2 at Ladbrokes
The other placing that many might find surprising is that of the Hawks. I love the turnover the Hawks have had in the offseason. No notable arrivals to name besides their draft picks, but Josh Gibson, Luke Hodge and Billy Hartung all depart, which we think is great for the Hawks development. Tom Mitchell established himself as a premier midfielder in the comp last year and Jaeger O’Meara looks promising in the build-up. Their core is still extremely talented with the likes of James Sicily, James Frawley, Grant Birchall, Mitchell, O’Meara, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli and Jack Gunston and we think they have the ability to get back in the eight in 2018.
TIP: Hawthorn to make the top eight - $2.25 at Ladbrokes
And of course, it’s hard to look past GWS for the Minor Premiership. Fourth the last two years in a row and their young list should only continue to improve. They had a dominant season last year throughout injury concerns to a few of their key forwards. We think they take the next step in 2018 especially in the regular season where their ridiculous depth should hold them in good stead. I can’t believe they are $10 to be honest.
TIP: GWS to win the Minor Premiership - $10 at Sportsbet
2018 Prop Bets
Tom Mitchell racked up 35.77 touches a game in 2017 and it honestly looked like he wasn’t even trying. He beat out second placed Matt Crouch by 61 possessions in the home and away season and seems like he has the best situation of all the contenders to rack them up once again in 2018.
TIP: Tom Mitchell most disposals in home and away season - $3.50 at Sportsbet
Joe Daniher is ready to take the next step in 2018. His rise last year was of almost meteoric proportions and he has the potential to take a similar leap this season. I honestly think his talent combined with Essendon improving this season will make him the best forward in the competition this year and a near lock to make the All-Australian Team.
TIP: Joe Daniher to make the All-Australian Team - $2.25 at Sportsbet
2018 AFL Premiership Prediction
So tough to make my Premiership pick this year. I just think there is an abundance of good teams and would not be surprised at all to see up to six or seven win it all. Geelong/Sydney/Adelaide are the front runners, although we think the Crows might take a backward step after the heartbreak of losing the Grand Final last season. As much as the Tigers fans think a repeat is in the making, I just can’t see the planets aligning as well as they did last season for the Tigers.
Port Adelaide will be big dark horses for a lot of people, but I think the media and the public overrate the recruits they brought in just a touch. After all this, I just keep landing on the same team, GWS. I’ll say it over and over again throughout the season, but I feel the Giants are ready now. They’ve been through a few tough years of losing in the prelims which any great side needs to go through before they can truly dominate. They are now an experienced finals team and are primed to win it all. We’ll take the $8 being offered here.
TIP: GWS to win the 2018 AFL Premiership - $8 at CrownBet
