AFL Futures Tracker, 2023 Coleman Medal
Seven rounds into the AFL season, and the goals are coming thick and fast.
From Jeremy Cameron’s Coleman/Brownlow Medal form to Big Charlie’s nine-goal haul, Bet Nation looks at the best bets for this year’s AFL Coleman Medal Award.
Jeremy Cameron
$1.85
It’s hard to go past the $1.85 favourite at this point of the season, with Jeremy Cameron taking his game to another level and booting 30 goals (and only eight behinds) from his first seven games.
While Jezza has won the award previously with 76 while at the Giants in 2019, the whole taken-his-game-to-another-level statement refers primarily to his sheer dominance on each match as he averages 19 disposals per game. He booted seven goals from 22 disposals against Hawthorn in Round Four and six from 25 against in Round Two.
Not only is the star forward a short quote to take out the Coleman, but he’s also currently $12 and fourth favourite to become the first key forward to win the Brownlow Medal since Tony Lockett in 1987.
While his three majors against Essendon over the weekend put him behind in his quest for the 100, there’s no doubting he is the best forward in the AFL. Nay, the best player in the AFL.
Charlie Curnow
$2.20
Can the reigning Coleman winner make it three straight medals for a Carlton player? After kicking a bag of nine against West Coast on Saturday night, he’s been crunched into $2.20 as the market warms up to the idea of a McKay/Curnow/Curnow hat-trick.
Despite the luxury Michael Voss possesses with the twin towers in his forward half, there’s no doubt Curnow has become the main assassin following his 64-goal haul in 2022 and with bags of five, six and nine already this season. His 30 goals monsters McKay’s 11 to this point.
With Carlton’s midfield of Patrick Cripps, George Hewett, Sam Walsh, and Blake Acres winning more battles than they’re losing, and the delivery from Adam Saad and Sam Docherty off half-back, the Blues’ old-school power forward could become the first player to go back-to-back since Josh Kennedy (WCE) in 2015-16.
Tom Hawkins
$21
Is there anything this guy can’t do?
At the young age of 34 and with 334 games under his belt, the 2020 Coleman Medal champion has worked his way back into fitness and goal-kicking form, culminating in a season-high eight against Essendon on Sunday.
Entering the season with a foot complaint, it took the Tomahawk the best part of a month to find his form, but boy, has he found it since, with hauls of four, five and eight over the past three games taking his total to 22.
There’s always a concern with the amount of goals Hawkins and Cameron can share in the same forward line, but he’s currently playing the perfect #2 role as they both find ways to impact the scoreboard.
Ben King
$67
OK, this one’s a bit out there based on the current leaderboard, but if any player can come from 14 goals down seven rounds into the season, it’s the King of the Gold Coast.
After missing last season with a ruptured ACL, the young star has bounced back into form with nine goals from his past two games against Richmond (4) and North Melbourne (5). Coincidentally, both have been impressive victories for the Suns.
By the numbers, he’s averaging 3.3 goals in wins and just 1.5 in their losses. And let’s not forget he drove home 47 goals as a 20yo in 2021.
There are certainly better options ahead of him, but from a value perspective and with an ounce of luck on his side, that $67 could look very enticing to those who want to bet outside the favourites.
