A Guide to Betting on Aussie Rules

Aussie Rules is an extremely popular pastime in the Southern Hemisphere and, over the last decade, its popularity has begun to increase across Europe as well.

The game has a rich history with the first recorded matches believed to have taken place in 1859 and, although this contact sport has evolved over the years, the key elements of the game are still in place over 150 years after its inception.

The AFL is extremely popular with Australian punters and betting is also available worldwide on the league. Every online sportsbook will have a section dedicated to the sport and it has never been easier to place a bet on this highly competitive division.

whittled down to just two. The Grand Final is the best-attended club championship event in the world and marks a significant day in the calendar for Australian sports fans.

The AFL is extremely popular with Australian punters and betting is also available worldwide on the league. Every online sportsbook will have a section dedicated to the sport and it has never been easier to place a bet on this highly competitive division.

Grand Final Betting

AFL fans enjoy betting on a variety of different markets but the Grand Final Winner is amongst the most popular. This is simply a case of predicting which team will win the showpiece event in September.

Some divisions can be disappointingly one-sided with the same teams dominating each year but the AFL is always fiercely competitive and there have been seven different winners since 2010. The West Coast Eagles were the 2018 winners, leaving it late to secure a victory over Collingwood but that was their first championship since 2006 and this variety keeps the AFL fresh and exciting for the neutrals.

The West Coast Eagles are third favourites to win the 2019 Grand Final according to Oddschecker which suggests that the title could change hands yet again. It may be worth opposing the favourite in this market each season as the team at the top of the betting rarely tend to triumph.

This is a season-long bet and it is a great way of keeping across all of the action but those who prefer to place short-term wagers can find plenty of other markets priced up throughout the AFL season.

Moneyline Markets

This is by far the simplest way of betting on a weekly basis and simply requires a match prediction. The game will take one of three outcomes – Home Win, Draw or Away Win (also displayed as 1X2) and odds are available on each of these possible scenarios.

The fixtures are announced months in advance and bookmakers will typically price up the opening contest of the season in November. If the game ends in a tie, it will go into overtime. Some bookmakers do not offer a price for the draw and will simply ask punters to predict the outcome of the match including overtime.

Accumulators on the AFL across the weekend are extremely popular and these will typically include Moneyline bets.

match-ups which traditionally deliver entertaining contests can be a great starting point for betting on this market.

The totals are determined by the bookmaker and this is usually priced up according to recent form. Overs is recommended when two teams with plenty of firepower meet. If both sides are struggling to score points, it is worth considering Unders.

Players returning to fitness or forwards being reintroduced into a line-up can often inspire improved displays so it’s always advised to check team news before placing a wager.

Checking the weather conditions is another piece of advice which is likely to come in handy throughout the season. The AFL is played during the winter months and the climate can be fairly unpredictable and this can greatly affect the outcome of a contest. Windy and wet conditions are unlikely to inspire a high-scoring game so always analyse the forecast before committing to an Over/Under bet.

Over/Under – Total Score

Another very popular way of betting is on the Over/Under market. Some punters prefer this method as it doesn’t require picking a winner. Some games will be naturally high-scoring and

match-ups which traditionally deliver entertaining contests can be a great starting point for betting on this market.

The totals are determined by the bookmaker and this is usually priced up according to recent form. Overs is recommended when two teams with plenty of firepower meet. If both sides are struggling to score points, it is worth considering Unders.

Players returning to fitness or forwards being reintroduced into a line-up can often inspire improved displays so it’s always advised to check team news before placing a wager.

Checking the weather conditions is another piece of advice which is likely to come in handy throughout the season. The AFL is played during the winter months and the climate can be fairly unpredictable and this can greatly affect the outcome of a contest. Windy and wet conditions are unlikely to inspire a high-scoring game so always analyse the forecast before committing to an Over/Under bet.

Line/Spread Betting

With regular upsets occurring throughout the season, this market has become increasingly popular with AFL punters. This allows each team to overcome a handicap such as -7.5 or +7.5.

Favourites can often be prohibitively priced on the moneyline markets so backing them to win by a clear margin can be a great way of increasing the value. For example: If Collingwood were taking on Essendon and the spread is set at -8.5, they would have to win by 9 clear points in order to trigger a payout.

It is very simple to calculate:

If you subtract 8.5 from Collingwood’s total points in the game and they would still be winning, they have successfully overcome the handicap.

Prop Bets

With an increased amount of interest in AFL betting, prop bets have become commonplace in recent years. These involve special markets which focus on team or individual player performance. For example, Player A to claim 25+ disposals in a game or Team B to score the first points.

These are particularly popular with dedicated fans of the league who closely follow and analyse team performance on a weekly basis.

Things to Consider

Weather Conditions

As previously mentioned, weather conditions can greatly impact the outcome of any AFL game. Pitches can become boggy and play can often become fragmented as a result of poor visibility. Forecasts can easily be accessed online and this must be taken into consideration before placing a bet. If one team has a noticeable anomaly in their form-line, this could have been caused by inclement conditions.

Team News

Teams can often go on losing runs following the injury of a key player. Having to field rookie forwards or inexperienced full-backs could result in sloppy play. Missing players can have a huge impact on the results in the AFL and can have a detrimental effect on team morale as well.

Consider the Underdog

Shocks do occur in the AFL and unfancied teams should not be completely written off. With so many different teams winning the Grand Final in recent years, the division isn’t short on drama and twists and turns are part and parcel of the regular season. Don’t fall into the trap of assuming all of the favourites will emerge victorious each weekend.

Aussie Rules betting is extremely enjoyable and it is a great way of following all of the action throughout the course of the season. With an increasing amount of online bookmakers pricing up a plethora of markets on a weekly basis, there has never been a better time to wager on the AFL.

Remember gambling should be fun and if it’s no longer fun you should consider self-excluding from bookmakers.