Despite the coaching change and the recruitment of midfield depth we're still on the nose with the punters -

$4.50 Hawthorn

$5.50 Fremantle, Sydney

$7.00 Geelong, Collingwood

$13.00 North Melbourne, Richmond

$21.00 Carlton, Essendon, West Coast

$26.00 Adelaide

$34.00 Port Adelaide

$101.00 Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast

$126.00 Brisbane Lions

$251.00 St. Kilda

$501.00 Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne

I take it from this that we're seen as likely to finish in the bottom 2 in 2014.

Obviously the optimism for a improved season shown on Demonland is not shared by the betting fraternity.

Personally, I think the destruction of culture at the Swans will set them back out of the top 4 next season. Just my two cents. They were a far worse team this year than they were the year before, and they had Tippett for half of it.

More generally we're line-ball with St Kilda to finish bottom two:

http://www.way2bet.com.au/sportsbet/AFL/2014-AFL-Futures/AFL-Futures/AFL-Premiership-Winner/19707/19708/41939

Oddly though we're still paying $2.40 to win against the Saints in Round 1.

As a non gambler....I couldn't give a stuff of what punters or bookies think or expect

I imagine that Port's odds last year were very large.(if that's the word)

Both are just guessing like the rest of us.

Obviously the optimism for a improved season shown on Demonland is not shared by the betting fraternity.

And the betting fraternity have had such a wonderful time recently ! :-)))))

One week at a time what odds for us to knock off the saints.?

The odds look fair to me.

MFC only has once chance of winning the Flag in 2014 and that is if every other teams is forced to finish 9th on the ladder.

I take it from this that we're seen as likely to finish in the bottom 2 in 2014.

They are seldom wrong RB.

However these sort of markets are not ones that hold a lot of money.

I guarantee you that if you rang them and said I want to put $1000 on the dees they would not take the bet.

Leave aside the dee faithful there would not be one reasonable judge who would predict us to get out of the bottom four in 2014 .

The problem with any club faithful is we all over rate our list.

There is a reason we have won six games in two years is it that we have a poor list.

One pre season will not turn us into a silk purse.

Three may but one won't IMO.

They are seldom wrong RB.

However these sort of markets are not ones that hold a lot of money.

I guarantee you that if you rang them and said I want to put $1000 on the dees they would not take the bet.

Leave aside the dee faithful there would not be one reasonable judge who would predict us to get out of the bottom four in 2014 .

The problem with any club faithful is we all over rate our list.

There is a reason we have won six games in two years is it that we have a poor list.

One pre season will not turn us into a silk purse.

Three may but one won't IMO.

True OD overall the MFC list is still poor.

OD this is how I see the MFC and what it needs to do to improve in 2014:

The MFC does have a few good players and its appears to be a better list going into the 2014 season.

However you would expect most other Clubs have also improved their lists as well.

To me the MFC new recruits appears to be boarder line players from othe teams.

If there is improvement in 2014 IMO it will come from getting our best 22 consistantly on the field without injury.

Also the Club needs to have a winning approach to games and not accept continual defeats.

From a Club point of view I could not see how it could have done things differently to improve itself from the beginning of the 2013 season.

New Presient, board members, CEO, coaching staff, improved mid field, major sponsor were all steps in the right direction and very much needed.

It's the coach, the recruits, hopefully a good run with injuries and some luck.

Prior to the first test, what were the odds of Australia being three from three? Very different to today I expect.

Most of the odds on that table will change throughout the season, potentially quite significantly for some teams.

If we win some games early in the season, we won't be such a lock for the bottom two.

For instance, I reckon the Bombers might slide in 2014 - good list, but plenty of off field drama, and a tough draw.

Some, however, are saying they have the potential to be top 4 next year. I just don't see that.

In short, the odds are accurate in many respects. BUT, at this point in the year, they aren't particularly informative.