Everything You Need to Know About Bets on Australian Football

Australia is one of the most unique countries in the world. Its uniqueness can be found all over the country from its people to their pastimes. One of these unique pastimes locals enjoy is Australian Rules Football. Aussie Rules Football is an enigma to people outside of Australia. While the NFL and American football resemble rugby in various ways, Aussie Rules Football doesn’t look like any other sport. Although you can find elements of other games such as soccer, American football bets, rugby, and even basketball, Aussie Rules Football is something very special.

Aussie Rules Football is the most popular sport Downunder and a favourite for sports punters. On the surface, the game looks extremely complex. If you are not familiar with Australian Rules Football, you may shy away from AFL Premiership betting.

A little bit of information and logging some hours watching matches will give you the knowledge needed to starting Aussie rules football betting.

AFL

The competition for Australian rules football is the Australian Football League (AFL). It is a league that consists of 18 teams that play each other at least once and after 23 matches the top 8 teams are decided and advance to the playoff round. Then a knockout system results in two finalists. Each year the winner of the championship is decided in AFL Grand Final, which is, as for today, club championship final with the highest attended number of people in the world.

How to Play

Aussie rules, or “footy” as it is sometimes called Down Under, is played on an oval pitch that is much larger than any football field. There are no standard dimensions for an oval but in the AFL the largest boundary is UTAS Stadium which is 175m long and 145m wide, while one of the smaller fields is Blundstone Arena in Bellerive which measures 160m by 124m.

Points are scored by kicking the ball through the four posts on either end of the field. The two middle and taller posts are the goal posts while the two outer posts are the behind posts. Kicking the ball between the goal posts, without another a player touching the ball, counts as a goal and is worth six points. Kicking the ball between the one of the goal posts and one of the behind posts (or hitting a goal post and having it bounce back) counts as a behind and is worth one point.

Each team has 18 players on the oval and four on the bench as interchange substitutions. There is no limit on the amount of times a single player can be substituted but each team has a maximum of 90 total interchanges a game (that is not a typo so expect lots of subs).

A game consists of four 20 minute quarters. Extra time may be added on at the end like soccer.

Players may run with the ball but they must bounce the ball every 15 metres.

Players may pass the ball by kicking or by “handballing” which is when a player holds the ball in one hand while punching the ball (with a closed fist) with the other hand.

A “mark” is when a player catches a ball off a kick that has travelled at least 15 meters without hitting the ground or another player. This results in the player who caught the ball getting a protected area of ten metres around them which they can then use for a free kick. One of the most important skills in Aussie Rules is to grab a mark in mid-air. While defenders can’t tackle a player while in the air, a player that is making an attempt to play the ball may use an opponent to jump off.

Defenders can tackle the player playing the ball but the tackle must be above the knees and below the shoulder line. Tacklers do not have to make an attempt to wrap their arms around the ball carrier, so shoulder charges and body checks are legal hits. Pushing in the back is not allowed.

How to bet on the AFL

Head to Head Betting

This is simply the more common way to refer to moneyline betting in the AFL, where you bet on which team will win the match. The favorite will have a negative (-) sign besides the number while the underdog will have a positive (+).

For example, in a 2020 match between West Coast and Melbourne, West Coast was a big favorite at -300. That meant that a bettor had to wager $300 to win $100 by betting on West Coast. Melbourne was listed at +235 which meant that a bettor stood to profit $235 for every $100 wagered on them.

If both teams are listed at -110 or PK (for pick’em), then both sides have even odds.

Line Betting

Line betting is exactly like the handicap or point spread betting in sports like the NFL or NBA. A favored team will give away points while an underdog will be given points in an effort to even the odds up on both sides of the market.

Due to the two types of scoring (goals 6 points and behinds 1 point) and the regularity that teams hit the scoreboard,  there really aren’t any significant point spread numbers like there are in other sports. A goal is worth 6 points but a margin is just as likely to be 7 as it is 6. A handicap of -6.5, while clearly being more than one straight goal, is not enough of a difference to see a flood of betting. Teams will drift or come in by a few points here or there regularly in the lead up to the start of a game.

Sportsbooks will always include the half point in the line betting as there is no real need to have the risk of a push with such high scoring.

Average scores have been steadily dropping in the AFL as teams work out better methods of zone defence and full field presses. Look for teams getting solid plus points on the spread. Always some value there!

Total

The total game points over and under is fairly self-explanatory. A bettor wagers on whether the score of both teams combined will add up to more or less than the total set by the sportsbook.

Wet weather can have an effect on points totals, keeping them lower. This is because slippery conditions make it harder to move the ball around the field efficiently.

The total points market is essentially a coin flip. If you are looking for a bet type that will be alive throughout the game, then this one is for you. Be warned consistent profitability from this bet type is difficult unless the bettor is well informed on a whole variety or variables.

A difficult market to pick at the best of times. Even the best tipsters find this market inconsistent. Stay away unless you are just looking for some fun.

Margin Betting

Margin betting in the AFL is hugely popular. Due to the regularity of scoring, margins can range from thrilling one point wins through to 10 plus goal blowouts. AFL bettors often refer to margins in terms of how many goals difference between the teams even if the number is not exact. For example a 17 point win could be referred to as a 3 goal win even though 3 goals are actually 18 points.

In the ‘big win, little win’ market, the margin is set at 1-39 points or 40+. These brackets never change but the odds fluctuate depending on the strength of the opponents. A 40 point win is essentially 7 goals and that reflects quite a dominant performance. I.e. nearly two goals better per quarter on average. The 1-39 point bracket reflects, as the name suggests, a much closer contest. 30+ points win doesn’t seem close but due to the running nature of the game score lines can blow out late when one team stops running.

Another common margin bracket is 1-24 and 24+. This becomes popular in games perceived to be close. The 24 points represents a four goal win which average out to a goal better per quarter.

In games that appear close according to moneyline you will always find more value betting the 1-39 small win market.

Derivatives

Derivatives are side, line and total bets that are based on a half or a quarter instead of a full game. This is a great option for those looking to have some early action on a game and can be a profitable option for bettors who research which teams tend to play better or worse early on in matches.

Proposition Bets

In addition to derivative betting there are a host of other proposition bets you can make in AFL play. These include betting on player props, the first score of the game the amount of goals and behinds scored etc.

Live Betting

Live betting allows you to bet on a game that is in progress. Watching a match can give you a good idea of the flow of a game and live odds will change depending on the early scoring. Confident that the better team will win despite falling behind early? Well you might want to consider them on the live in-game spread.

Keep in mind that if you are streaming the match you might be a few seconds behind the live action so consider placing your wagers during a stoppage in play so you don’t get burned.

Disposals Markets

The disposals markets are essentially player prop markets. In some ways it is comparable to the individual points markets offered in the NBA. In Australian Football a disposal is either a handball or a kick. Players who gain large disposal counts (ball winners) often play in the midfield where much of the play passes through. 30 plus disposals per game is a common amount for the real ball winners. Teams will ‘tag’ the opponents major ball winners to nullify their impact on the game. This usually reduces the number of possessions they gather.

These markets are fun to have action on as a high ball winner will gather possessions (disposals) throughout the game and their disposal count can be followed live on numerous sites and apps. This betting market ties in closely with the AFL fantasy markets which are also very popular.

Look to be a contrarian. Disposals markets tend to favor the big names and their odds are always short. Opposition teams will tag them so look for an over/under market and take the unders.

Futures

Futures betting allows you to place wagers on future results. The easiest futures bet to find in the AFL betting market is the winner of the AFL Grand Final which is scheduled towards the end of September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In general, the following are some most popular futures markets.

Premiership Winner

The team that goes on to win the Grand Final, AFL’s superbowl equivalent, is called the premier (as opposed to the champions). Therefore winning the whole competition is called ‘winning the premiership’. The premiership is sometimes referred to as ‘the flag’ as the team that wins receives a giant premiership flag.

Like all good futures bet this market is popular with recreational and professional bettors alike. As the AFL use a draft system similar to the NFL the seasons from year to year are very close. An argument could be made for several of the teams to go on and win the premiership. It is a market worth having a look at if you love finding value.

Brownlow Medal

The Brownlow medal is awarded to the player best and fairest player in the AFL each year. It is the AFL’s equivalent of an MVP. While this is a specialized market, betting is taken on the market throughout the year. The more a bettor gets into the sport the more this market becomes relevant and exciting.

Throughout the season the best three players on the field are awarded a 3, 2 or 1 point to go towards their brownlow count. The decision on who gets awarded the points is left to the umpires. It is clear that some players are the darling of the umpires and poll votes even when other players probably deserved them more.

The Brownlow Medal Count is a sensational betting market for people who have become avid follows of the sport. The more a bettor gets into the sport the more this market becomes relevant and exciting. Watch for a while then jump into once you’re ready.

Coleman medal

The ‘Coleman’ is a medal awarded to the player who kicks the most goals in the AFL each year. Goal kickers are high profile excitement machines who draw huge crowds to games on their own right. This market behaves like a horse race, just one that takes 23 weeks to conclude! As the season unfolds the favorite can falter and be run down by the players coming second or third. It is a fun market to be part of as a recreational bettor.

After each week of games this market is reframed. It is never too late to find some value and jump on!

Key points

1. One of the characteristic features of Aussie rules is local rivalries and derbies. The reason for this is that almost half of the teams in the tournament were created in Melbourne. After years of competing, the neighbouring districts and suburbs started passionate rivalries against each other. It is worth remembering while betting on particular fixtures, especially when teams from Melbourne play.
2. Another thing to remember is the fact that Australians mostly use the decimal odds system and often mistakenly put an Australian dollar sign in front of the odds. If you are not from the Australia it might be very confusing for you. It is also worth to research the bookmakers that operate in the country because some of them may not ring a bell to you, with some not available in Europe or even the U.S.
3. It is also good to know the stadium that the team you want to bet on will play. Unlike in other ball-involved team sports, in Australian football there is a significant difference in size between some of the grounds of teams from the AFL. That is why some teams are better on smaller grounds and some are big-ground specialists. While the Melbourne Cricket Ground may be used in every round of the regular season because of the number of Melbourne-based teams, other stadiums are not as well-known to non-Australians and can give a major advantage before the betting. It is somewhat similar to the types of courts in tennis.
4. Because of its geography, Australia is a very demanding continent. The distances between two closest to each other towns can be counted in thousands of miles. Some cities with teams in the AFL are so remote from each other that players are very tired after travelling to and from them. Good example is the city of Perth. What is more, despite being a one-nation continent and popular opinion, the weather in Australia can be very different in some places. The most important weather factor is the wind, although most arenas are built to not be prone to the wind.
5. A good thing to do is to observe the changes in the squads of the teams as well as the changes in the coaching staff. In Australia drafts and college teams are not as important and publicized as in the American NFL. Nevertheless it is very important to know as much as you can about the players. Apart from obvious reason of them being sometimes able to completely change the result it is advisable to know who the best player is or who scores most goals in a season or the Final because of the Medal betting.
6. The bookmakers take bets on various AFL awards, with most important prestigious being the Brownlow Medal, which is awarded to the best player of the AFL. Usually, after few first games it is possible to determine which player will have the most tackles or scored points and which teams should be the top 8 and maybe even which will be in the Final. As in other sports, the earlier you bet, the better are the odds, but higher the risk at the same time. Proper knowledge and use of both team and individual player statistics can be a major advantage for a bettor even at the early stages of the season.
7. An important factor in betting on a league game in every sport is the schedule. It is good to look through the match dates, look for a team you want to bet on or for interesting games like rivalries. With the help of the schedule you can almost decide the results of upcoming fixtures. With already mentioned knowledge of the weather impact and the importance of the home ground advantage as well as the size and type of the field you can determine the outcome of the game more easily. What is more, you can check direct matches between the teams you want to bet on from and the last few seasons.
8. Always remember about the possibility of injuries that can change the odds seconds before the start of the game, it is very hard to but not something impossible to predict. If a particular period in the team schedule is full of difficult matches and/or have away games in distant cities you can be sure that the players will not be 100% fit after those types of games, with some of them with serious injuries. Remember that it is very contact sport and serious injuries, excluding the player from the rest of the season or even ending their career, might happen.

The Advantage of the Timezone

One of the most underrated features of betting on Australian Football is that the Aussie time zone difference lands these games in a perfect dead spot for US bettors. Games range from around midnight eastern through until around 7am eastern. Many of the games appear on cable sports channels as well. This makes them prime for night owls who like to bet, or more sophisticated bettors who are looking to increase their turnover.

If you haven’t experienced the benefits of an overnight wager then this sport is one of the best ways to get into it.