AFL / Jake Norton / 03 March 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external">Bet Now

AFL betting has become one of the most popular pastimes in the Australian punting landscape in recent years, after taking a while to gather momentum as a genuine, viable product for the sports punter. The reasons behind the steady increase in AFL betting popularity are many.

Firstly, it has been less than twenty years since the advent of the nationwide Australian rules competition, which not only has enabled the AFL to become a veritable behemoth in the national sporting market, but also facilitated the interest and input of punters from across the country into previously low-scale betting markets. And as we know, greater volume in markets generally brings with it better returns for your punting dollar. Of course, things rings true loudest when it comes to Betfair, and makes Betfair the perfect destination for AFL betting.

Secondly, the AFL's development into such an immense commercial presence - so much so that it operates by its own financial calendar, paying no heed to that by which the rest of the country does - has enabled it to lead the way in areas such as administration and integrity. In other words, amidst a sporting scene endlessly tainted by an apparent lack of integrity or cleanliness, it is difficult if impossible to argue that any AFL match has been spoiled by an untrue result. Many sports cannot survive the same argument, and that provides another reason for the meteoric rise in the popularity of AFL betting.

Successful AFL betting - a few tips

The above factors, among many, provide great incentive for sports bettors to try their hand at the AFL. For those starting out in the caper, here are some handy hints that you might like to take on board, and may culminate in you advancing your AFL betting fortunes....

Bet with your head... not your heart
As we know, AFL football is a game played by clubs with very passionate and tribal supporter bases, perhaps more so than any other sport in Australia. With this in mind, it is not uncommon for supporters to represent their passion through their hip pocket, i.e. by backing their team to win week in and week out, irrespective of its opponent.

Whilst this is an admirable quality from a loyalty perspective, and granted, these punters might get lucky sometimes, it completely defies some of the fundamental ideologies of punting, but principally: form. Discerning punters may barrack as hard as they can for their team, but will know that if there is form or factors suggesting a strong likelihood of the opposition winning, their support will be left to the vocal kind, rather than the financial kind! Sometimes, in order to make punting

Large supporter bases can equate to poor betting value
In line with the above tip, the teams with the most numerous followings are likely to entice a greater volume of emotion-based betting support, and thus provide shorter odds than what they should, all things being equal. The reverse obviously applies for clubs with a lower volume of support. Therefore, if you fancy the chances of a team with a relatively low following, there is a distinct likelihood that you will find better value in their odds - a pleasing factor in a head-to-head market.

Find as much statistical form as possible, develop a strategy, and frame a market to find value
Much like having a bet on horseracing or any other form of sports punting, finding a winner in AFL betting markets requires elements of strategy and observation. This fundamentally equates to form, or statistics. Don't ignore the fact that every piece of form or statistical evidence you have at your disposal provides you with an advantage in developing a betting strategy. In keeping with the idea of betting with your head rather than your heart, developing a winning strategy and sticking to it will enable you not only to find a greater percentage of winners, but also enhance your ability to frame a market and locating value where it exists. This in turn will also assist in you minimising your (inevitable!) losses.

Be value-conscious, but not exclusively so
As punters in general, including those with ongoing vested interests in AFL betting, know, value is a precious commodity. Given the choice, everyone wants value for money, and on the exchange, backing at a value price will provide great assistance in developing risk-free positions or locking yourself in a profit on an event. However, if you take your AFL betting seriously, you will also know that more often than not you are encountered with odds-on prices. Don't be discouraged by this; if you have confidence in a selection, a smaller collect is better than no collect at all!

Ultimately, as with any sport, Betfair invariably provides you with the greatest value, as well as a level of choice and control not available through traditional betting operators. Why not have an AFL bet with Betfair today?