The Australian Football League is a native sport of Australia and is considered the nation’s favourite sport. Every winter, the nation unites in a shared passion for the AFL, with over 70 million viewers tuning in to witness the thrilling matches.
Running from March to September, the top-tier Australian Rules football competition delivers an exciting season with over 200 games. This extensive schedule ensures there is always a match to watch, keeping both passionate AFL fans and sports bettors engaged throughout the season.
Understanding AFL
History
AFL’s roots trace back to the mid-1800s. It is believed to have emerged as a way for cricketers to stay in shape during the off-season in the winter of 1858, with the first-ever game of Australian Football played in Melbourne.
Here are some of the key moments in AFL History:
· 1859 – the first set of rules was established, and pioneering clubs like Melbourne and Geelong were founded.
· 1877 – the Victorian Football Association (VFA) was formed to provide a formal league structure in Victoria.
· 1896 – the Victorian Football League (VFL) was established following the popularity of Australian football in many parts of Australia and the demand for a more elite competition.
· 1990 – Reflecting its national reach and prominence, the VFL changed its name to the Australian Football League (AFL).
· 2017 – To demonstrate a continued commitment to growth, promote gender inclusivity, and expand the sport’s appeal, the AFL launched the AFL Women’s (AFLW) competition.
Game Mechanics and Basics
AFL is a fast-paced sport played on an oval-shaped grass field. Every match follows the same format:
· Teams: Each team is composed of 22 players (18 players on the field, 3 players on interchange, and 1 substitute).
· Game Time: Matches are divided into four 20-minute quarters, with the clock stopping when the ball is out of play.
· Objective: A team must score more points than the opposition by kicking the ball through the goalposts. Players can bring the ball to their scoring post by kicking, handballing, or running with it (but must bounce or touch it on the ground every 15 metres). They can also tackle or chase other players for defence.
· Scoring: Points are awarded for goals (6 points) and behinds (1 point).
o Goal: Scored by kicking the ball through the central or middle posts.
o Behind: Scored by kicking the ball through the outer or side posts, hitting the post, or being rushed through the posts by a player.
AFL Betting Markets
Similar to other sports betting disciplines, platforms for online betting in Singapore and other countries offer a multitude of wagering options in AFL matches. Here are some of them:
· Future Betting – This betting market involves placing bets well in advance of the event. Sportsbooks typically offer futures betting markets where you can predict the winner of the AFL Grand Final, Coleman Medal Winner, Brownlow Medal Winner, or even the teams to enter the Top 4 or Top 8.
· Head-to-Head Betting – In Australian Rules football, head-to-head betting is the same as moneyline betting. This means you only need to guess which team will win the game.
· Line Betting – This betting market is the equivalent to the handicap betting market in most sports betting disciplines. Line betting in Australian Rules football introduces a point spread as a way to even the field between two unevenly matched teams.
· Total Betting – Also referred to as over/under betting, total betting involves predicting whether the combined match points of both teams will go over or under the predetermined number set by the bookmaker. Generally, bookmakers set a total points reference for this betting market based on various factors, such as analysis of each team’s offensive and defensive capabilities.
· Margin Betting – This betting market involves predicting the number of points or goals the winning team will win by. Sportsbooks list a winning margin for each team and provide specific odds for them.
· Derivatives Betting – In Australian Rules football, sportsbooks offer derivatives betting markets that involve total, line, and side bets. In essence, you will wager on outcomes that occur on a half or quarter-time instead of outcomes in a full game.
· Proposition Betting – Also referred to as props betting, involves a variety of wagers on aspects of AFL beyond the traditional full-game head-to-head, line, and total. These are subcategorised into three:
o game props (e.g., will there be a goal in the first 5 minutes, total number of rushing yards, which team will be the first to score),
o team props (e.g., will a team win all four quarters, will a team score a specific defensive touchdown), and
o player props (e.g., which player will rack up the most disposals throughout the match, which player will score the first goal).
Strategies
Apart from the general tips on how to increase profit on sports betting, bettors can also employ specific strategies, such as:
Always Check the Forecast
As with any outdoor or open-field sport, AFL is a sport that is heavily affected by environmental factors, particularly precipitation, wind, and heat. Fine or wet weather conditions generally influence how teams perform during matches.
It is a strategic move to keep an eye on the weather conditions ahead of a game and how players or teams perform in different conditions. Some players or teams perform better in good-weather conditions, while others essentially become more efficient in poor-weather conditions.
Furthermore, bookmakers adjust odds for betting markets, especially lines and totals, based on weather conditions, among other factors.
Take Note of Home Ground Advantage
Home ground advantage is a real phenomenon in AFL—statistics consistently show a significant win rate for home teams in the Australian Rules footy. Teams are believed to be more comfortable playing in their home stadium, with a familiar environment and passionate crowd cheering them on.
When analysing matchups, consider the historical performance of each team at their home ground (and even away). If a team is struggling on the road but dominant at home, this could be a valuable betting opportunity, especially if the odds do not heavily favour them.
Leverage Player Performance Markets
As seen above, AFL betting offers a diverse range of markets beyond simply picking the outright winner of a match or tournament. Consider player performance markets, where you can bet on individual statistics like the number of goals a player kicks or the total disposals they record. This approach lets you capitalise on the strengths of specific players, even if their team might not be favoured to win the match.
To successfully leverage player performance markets, look for players who are in their best form, have a good record against the upcoming opposition, or are primed for a breakout game.
Know Your Margins
Bookmakers do not operate out of charity and are not in the business of losing money. To turn a profit, they incorporate a margin into the odds they offer for every bet. This margin essentially acts as a built-in commission, guaranteeing the bookmaker a profit, irrespective of the outcome.
While a single bet might seem unaffected, margins significantly impact long-term profitability. Hence, knowing your margins is crucial. Understanding the margins within odds allows you to assess the true value a bookmaker is offering on a particular bet. This essential makes it easier to compare odds offered by different bookmakers and find those with lower margins, giving you a better chance of making a profitable bet.
Where to Bet on AFL?
88ProAsia is a reputable Singapore betting site for bettors wanting to bet on AFL and other football tournaments. We provide a broad range of online sportsbook directories in Singapore and Malaysia as we strive to create a long-lasting and positive relationships with our clients and the online gaming community.
Register for an account at https://88proasia.com/ to start your AFL betting journey.
