AFL

IT IS becoming increasingly difficult to find a team to beat Richmond this year, with surprise packet West Coast the next challenger to step up to the plate.

The Tigers shortened to $3.75 to win the 2018 flag after last week’s win over a spirited North Melbourne and when

Ladbrokes opened its 2019 premiership market on Tuesday, the yellow-and-black juggernaut were $5 favourites, which, when added together in a multi bet, has them at $18.75 to claim a three-peat. Before all that, there is a trip to Perth and a top of the table clash with the Eagles and, while Richmond are the bookies’ pick, the early money has been with the home side at a ratio of more than two to one. Adelaide ($1.16) went down to Port Adelaide in Showdown 44, but they are very short-priced favourites to return to winning form against the Western Bulldogs tonight.

The bulk of the early money has been for the Bulldogs to record an upset and it would not surprise to see them start shorter than their $5.50 odds. Port Adelaide are the shortestpriced favourites in the AFL this weekend, but punters want nothing to do with them in Shanghai and Ladbrokes have taken a number of juicy bets on the Gold Coast at $6.75.