EVEN MONEY by The Oracle

Early this month, the Melbourne Football Club walked away from sponsorships with sports betting companies by committing to a responsible betting charter. At the time, the club's CEO Peter Jackson said it was “an important day for the club”.

I was thinking about that comment when I saw the early betting for Sunday night's Anzac Eve clash between Melbourne and Richmond which had the match up listed as an even money battle. I immediately asked myself the question, "how is this so"? How is it possible that betting agencies which live or die by framing odds for sporting contests could even think of putting a team with Richmond's recent form which has been putrid, on a par with Melbourne after its last two matches?

Just when I reach the point where I have decided that these people have completely taken leave of their own senses, I come to the realisation that it's the Demons we're talking about - that flakey team which hasn't won two consecutive games in a season since 2011 when they beat the Tigers in Round 14. I remember it well because about a month later it was Armageddon for the club, the coach was sacked and the team hit a brick wall causing near irreparable damage from which it is still recovering.

It's not as if the opportunity to win two games on end hasn't presented itself in recent times. After beating Brisbane in Round 16 last year, the team started as favourite to beat St Kilda at the MCG the following week and they put in a stinker to lose by 37 points. They were never really in the hunt.

And starting a game as favourite doesn't help the club very much at all. Take the club's last two matches against the down and almost out Bombers ... (three if you want to include the last NAB Challenge game of 2015) yes, please take them because I can barely bring myself to think of the humiliation each of those non efforts brought down on those of us who support the Dees.

So I look around trying to find reasons why things will be different this time. Why Melbourne will defy history and win two in a row and why it should start as favourite? Is it the fact that the Demons have an in form ruckman capable of turning a game on its head or that they have added to their playing stocks so that they now have greater strength, skill and discipline at the stoppages? Is it a better and more cohesive forward line with more depth in terms of players who can hit the scoreboard? A tighter defence? A more attacking game plan?

As much as I wrack my brain, I find myself entirely conflicted about how Melbourne will fare on Sunday night. Their recent form is better and my judgement is that the team that's in form should win but I'm afraid to place a wager on that eventuality. I therefore am left with no choice but to get with the club's responsible betting charter and decline the opportunity to gamble on the outcome of this match.

In other words, as far as I'm concerned, anything can and will happen - you can bet on it!

THE GAME

Richmond v Melbourne on Sunday 24 April 2016 at 7.10pm at the MCG

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Richmond 103 wins Melbourne 74 wins Drawn 2

At MCG Richmond 68 wins Melbourne 62 wins Drawn 1

Past five meetings Richmond 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins

The Coaches Hardwick 0 wins Roos 2 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy Channel Channel 7 live at 7.00pm

Radio - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand  

THE BETTING

Richmond to win - $1.92 Melbourne to win - $1.92

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 12.11.83 defeated Richmond 6.15.51 in Round 5, 2015 at the MCG

After an even first half, Melbourne took control of the game kicking six goals to one with Nathan Jones the star and Jesse Hogan playing his break out game by giving a quality opponent in Rance an absolute bath.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Tomas Bugg
HB: Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba, Christian Salem
C: Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson, Josh Wagner
HF: Jack Watts, Sam Frost, James Harmes
F: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Angus Brayshaw
FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C: Jeff Garlett, Jayden Hunt, Ben Kennedy, Cameron Pedersen                              
EMG: Colin Garland, Alex Neal-Bullen Christian Petracca

IN: Jeff Garlett, Bernie Vince

OUT: Matt Jones (soreness) Clayton Oliver (rested)

RICHMOND

B: David Astbury, Alex Rance, Brett Deledio
HB: Corey Ellis, Bachar Houli, Kamdyn McIntosh
C: Brandon Ellis, Shaun Grigg, Daniel Rioli
HF: Kane Lambert, Dustin Martin, Ty Vickery
F: Jack Riewoldt, Sam Lloyd, Connor Menadue
FOLL: Ivan Maric, Shane Edwards, Trent Cotchin
I/C: Jake Batchelor, Troy Chaplin, Anthony Miles, Steven Morris                                               
EMG: Taylor Hunt, Ben Lennon, Jacob Townsend

IN: Jake Batchelor, Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric, Anthony Miles, Steven Morris

OUT: Shaun Hampson (leg), Taylor Hunt (omitted), Ben Lennon (omitted), Andrew Moore (omitted), Nick Vlastuin (leg)

 

Its interesting that the bookies keep offering value to bet on the dees.  It tells me that the majority of punters don't rate us, and the bookies are offering value.

I have had a very small bet on every demons game this year, heres the odds I got for each match:

vs Pt Adelaide (NAB) odds $6.25

vs WB (NAB) odds $2

vs St Kilda (NAB) odds $2.55

vs GWS odds $2.35

vs ESS (I had to pick a margin to get value and still lost) over 40pts $1.95   Losing bet

vs Nth Melbourne odds $6.50  Losing Bet

vs Collingwood odds $2.45

vs Richmond I have taken $1.92, thinking we won't get out much higher than that.

 

In every game we have been either even money or better (excluding  the Essendon game), i think there is definate value on the Dees this year so far.  

 

 

 

4 hours ago, Rossmillan said:

Its interesting that the bookies keep offering value to bet on the dees. 

It's hard enough watching Melbourne play without also having money on the line.

4 hours ago, Rossmillan said:

In every game we have been either even money or better (excluding  the Essendon game), i think there is definate value on the Dees this year so far.  

You may find Tigers shorten slightly if Deledio is selected. They may be holding here. And many punters may be holding off until selection too.

I think the Tigers will start favourites just, and fwiw I think the Dees will be switched on for this blockbuster. Which I think would be a good sign on the big stage.

I hope nobody thinks we are encouraging them to gamble.

14 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I hope nobody thinks we are encouraging them to gamble.

On Sunday night, a Melbourne supporter put his bet slip up after. he Collingwood game. Viney for 30 disposals and watts for 3 goals or more. He put 500 on and collected a tidy 5.5k. 

Money for jam.

Reckon we will see Vince, Garlett, ANB and possibly one other, such as Grimes, named on an extended bench tonight, with Vince and Garlett being the only inclusions come Friday arvo.

Still not sure as to who misses though.

as much as i think petracca should have at least another week at casey, the fact that i have a mate visiting from the gold coast (and sweet seats for the game) means that i won't exactly be "sad" should he be named..

 

12 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Still not sure as to who misses though.

I think M Jones (ribs) and maybe Gus (concussion) could be the two.

Edited April 21, 20169 yr by grazman

12 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Reckon we will see Vince, Garlett, ANB and possibly one other, such as Grimes, named on an extended bench tonight, with Vince and Garlett being the only inclusions come Friday arvo.

Still not sure as to who misses though.

Agree but I think in keeping with our new tradition of late changes Garlett might be a late withdrawal (not fully recovered after a fitness test on Saturday morning) and Grimes will come in.

1 hour ago, H_T said:

You may find Tigers shorten slightly if Deledio is selected. They may be holding here. And many punters may be holding off until selection too.

I think the Tigers will start favourites just, and fwiw I think the Dees will be switched on for this blockbuster. Which I think would be a good sign on the big stage.

Yep your right, already out to $2 for the dees now, should of held off longer.  Obviously im the only one who thinks we are at worst 50/50 to win this game

Re the punt: I got on the Dees for $2.80 two weeks ago. BTW, I've had some luck this year, putting $5 on Danny Willett @$81 to win the Masters.

If Trac or Trenners were in this week then they would've already posted the feel good story of them being told.

Petracca on extended bench, what a tease!

Mahoney implied that if Garlett doesn't get up for Sunday then Petracca will probably play. Win/Win!

2 minutes ago, Members' Wing said:

Petracca on extended bench, what a tease!

As if you wouldn't post the teams if you've seen them.

I half don't want Garlett to get up this weekend...

1 minute ago, Nasher said:

As if you wouldn't post the teams if you've seen them.

I haven't seen them, just going off a tweet from Mark Stevens

IN: Colin Garland, Jeff Garlett, Alex Neal-Bullen, Christian Petracca, Bernie Vince

OUT: Matt Jones (injured) Clayton Oliver (rested)

In: Garlett, ANB, Petracca, Garland, Vince.

Out: Jones M, Oliver

TRACCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

BOTH GARLETT & PETRACCA WILL PLAY!!

PETRACCA

Just now, picket fence said:

BOTH GARLETT & PETRACCA WILL PLAY!!

Not if believe Josh.

Interchange is from Colin Garland, Jeff Garlett, Jayden Hunt, Ben Kennedy, Alex Neal-Bullen, Cameron Pedersen, Christian Petracca