Geelong Advertiser |A MASSIVE seven clubs cannot be separated in the tightest GFL premiership race in history.
More than half the competition will be rated at $7 or under to win the GFL flag after corporate bookmaker CrownBet released its local football markets.
Reigning premier Colac has been installed at $5 favourite as it chases back-to-back GFL flags.
But a swarm of clubs are hot on the Tigers’ heels.
Bell Park, St Joseph’s and Leopold are rated at $5.50, while Newtown & Chilwell and St Mary’s are $6
South Barwon ($7) is only just a little bit further out in the market.
“Without a doubt it is the tightest ever,” CrownBet price analyst Wayne Bent said.
“There are seven genuine chances and any of the seven wouldn’t surprise.
“It’s the hardest to price since I’ve been doing them (the markets), which is seven years.”
In the BFL, Geelong Amateur ($1.90) is almost unbackable to claim another league title.
The powerhouse dominated the competition when winning premiership last year and another recruiting spree sees it likely to line up even stronger than 2014.
“They have recruited unbelievable,” Bent said.
“They’ve got Peter Street and also another fella from Geelong’s VFL in Andrew McLean.”
Runner-up Torquay ($4.20) is second favourite.
In the GDFL Bell Post Hill ($1.80), chasing its fifth premiership in six years, will carry the early burden as premiership favourite.
As expected runner-up North Geelong ($4.80) is second in the market, while Inverleigh is expected to receive some support at $6.
“We think Inverleigh could be the big improver. They could be the ones that come out of the pack,” Bent said.
“We’ve heard rumours that Thomson ($26) are flying too. But it’s hard to come from a wooden spoon.”
The markets also show a clear divide in the GFL competition with its other five clubs rated as rank outsiders to lift the cup.
Grovedale ($16) is the best of the chasers. Lara ($151) has had a number of key players walk out and is a massive outsider.
“There’s plenty of value there for markets who like a team. There isn’t a shortie,” Bent said.
ODDS
GFL
$5 Colac
$5.50 Bell Park, Leopold, St Joseph’s
$6 Newtown & Chilwell, St Mary’s
$7 South Barwon
$16 Grovedale
$34 St Albans
$51 Geelong West-St Peter’s
$101 North Shore
$151 Lara
BFL
$1.90 Geelong Amateur
$4.20 Torquay
$4.60 Ocean Grove
$8 Barwon Heads
$10 Queenscliff
$12 Drysdale
$34 Modewarre, Anglesea
$101 Portarlington
$201 Newcomb Power
GDFL
$1.80 Bell Post Hill
$4.80 North Geelong
$6 Inverleigh
$12 East Geelong, Belmont Lions, Bannockburn
$14 Winchelsea, Werribee Centrals
$26 Thomson
$81 Geelong West
$101 Anakie, Corio
Odds: CrownBet
