2024 AFL Futures Tracker
Brownlow Medal
$13.00
Would you take Nick Daicos (Coll) at $5 in February?
While the young Magpies star should be the favourite to win this year’s award, his current quote is far too short.
Despite missing Rounds 22 and 23 due to a knee injury, Daicos still managed to poll 28 votes for the eventual premiers in last season’s count and just his second season of AFL. Tom Mitchell (12), Josh Daicos (8) and Jordan De Goey (8) were his closest teammates, showcasing his dominance off half-back.
Teams will be far more physical with the son of a gun this season, but his elite running capabilities will ensure he can build on the 12 games of 30+ disposals he gathered in 2023.
Last year’s runner-up, Marcus Bontempelli (WB), is on the next line of betting at $12, while Sam Walsh (Carl), Errol Gulden (Syd) and Lachie Neale (Bris) are currently $13 with Bet Nation. The Brisbane champion and two-time Brownlow winner has had an interrupted pre-season after undergoing minor groin surgery, leaving us to focus our attention on the star Swans wingman at that price.
Gulden was largely a surprise packet on Brownlow Medal night, with 27 votes in his third season at the top level. However, he averaged 27 disposals in a mid-tier Swans outfit and proved one of the most dangerous midfielders in front of goal with 22 majors.
If you’re looking for a player to continue his improvement, you could do worse than backing Gulden at $13.
Suggested Bet: E. Gulden to win at $13
Wooden Spoon
$2.00
While Collingwood and Brisbane dominate the premiership markets at this point of the year, punters are piling into the West Coast Eagles ($2) at the other end of the ladder.
Having claimed their first wooden spoon since 2010 last season, the Eagles have failed to make a mark over the pre-season despite the recruitment of #1 draft pick Harley Reid, Tyler Brockman (Haw), Matt Flynn (GWS) and the somewhat surprising re-signing of Adam Simpson as senior coach.
The 2018 premiers have managed just five wins in two seasons but, most concerningly, suffered five 100-point losses from Round 7 onwards. The addition of Flynn is certainly an upgrade on Bailey Williams in the ruck, but their lack of elite talent will once again bring about far more Ls than Ws this season.
North Melbourne ($3) certainly hasn’t been missed by the market either, after they only narrowly missed their third consecutive wooden spoon. It was another horror year for the Kangaroos off-field, but Alastair Clarkson is back in the driver’s seat and ready to lead his inexperienced chargers.
Losing Ben McKay, Todd Goldstein, and now Tarryn Thomas certainly diminishes their chances of an immediate revival, but the Roos went on a shopping spree at last year’s AFL Draft and selected Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma in the first four picks. Dylan Stephens (Syd) and Zac Fisher (Carl) will add a bit of experience around the young group, but don’t expect any miracle resurgence from the master coach.
Suggested Bet: WCE to win at $2
Rising Star
$4.50
Often one of the more difficult awards to predict, there’s a clear favourite in this year’s AFL Rising Star markets with Harley Reid (WCE) already at $3.
Reid was arguably the most highly touted draft prospect in years, with his intimidating physical frame and hard-nosed edge attracting comparisons to a young Dustin Martin. While a treble of Norm Smiths and a Brownlow are still out of reach, there’s no doubt this 18-year-old prodigy will get every chance to shine in an Eagles midfield with a shortage of talent.
It’s not all one-way traffic, however, with North Melbourne’s crop of young talent likely to attract a lot of attention from those handing out votes at the end of the season. George Wardlaw ($4.50) has already showcased his incredible potential at AFL level, while Colby McKercher ($7) and Zane Duursma ($21) will get every chance to make their mark under Clarkson’s leadership.
Duursma, who was taken at Pick #4 in the draft, is a goal-kicking midfielder standing at 189cm tall, providing the most value for punters at $21. It’s hard to go past his teammate Wardlaw, though, who proved to be a tackling machine in his eight games last year.
Suggested Bet: G. Wardlaw to win at $4.50
