Round 20 of the 2021 AFL season saw the race for eighth heat up, while a premiership bolter continued to impress, securing a fifth-straight win.
Here’s how it looked for punters:
Freo fire, Saints finished
We said prior to the weekend that Round 20 would be make-or-break for Fremantle and St Kilda. And so it proved, with the Saints bidding farewell to any remaining finals hopes in 2021 after a poor loss to Carlton, despite going in $1.46 favourites with Palmerbet. The Dockers similarly had everything on the line at home against Richmond. Starting as $2.51 outsiders, Justin Longmuir’s side saluted against reigning premiers Richmond. In the best indication yet that his side may just be a Finals side this season, his side has shortened into $3.00 to make the AFL Top 8. However it’s a packed field jostling for eighth, with GWS, Richmond (both $3.40) and Essendon ($3.60) hot on the heels.
The race for the top-eight is ON 🔥
Who will make the cut in three rounds' time? pic.twitter.com/wqh7R3YWqY
— AFL (@AFL) August 2, 2021
Superb Swans
Another week, another Sydney win, and further shortening of their AFL Premiership chances. The Swans were electric in another classic against Essendon, piling on 13 second-half goals to run out seven-point winners. It was the fifth-straight time the two sides played out a clash decided by 10 points or less.
It continues an incredible run by John Longmire’s men, who have had to continually dodge Covid restrictions around the country. After a Round 15 loss to Port Adelaide, the Swans were pushed way out to $41 flag hopes with Palmerbet. But five wins in a row — all against sides either locked in or in the finals race — has incredibly seen them into $7.50. Only Geelong ($3.75), Western Bulldogs ($4.20) and Melbourne ($5.00) are considered better chances at this stage of the AFL season.
https://twitter.com/staffo_sez/status/1421758828345892867?s=20
Gulden back in the hunt?
Sydney’s gun academy player Errol Gulden burst onto the AFL scene earlier this year with an incredible start to his career. Gulden shot out to a $3.00 Rising Star favourite with Palmerbet after just two rounds. However after missing seven games in the middle of the season with injury, he was considered out of the race and went way out to $51.
But a brilliant last month — culminating with a career-high 23 disposals and match-clinching goal against Essendon — has him back in the hunt as sixth-favourite at $21. Given the amount of footy he missed, he’ll have to have a huge last three weeks to get back in the judges sights. But stranger things have happened…
WHAT A GOAL FROM GULDEN 🤯
✏️BLOG: https://t.co/MSdJQUKKwL
📱MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/5rHhHp9s6B
📺 WATCH #AFLDonsSwans on @kayosports: https://t.co/EZQfB2BXw4 pic.twitter.com/ZNIP0gzQWn— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 1, 2021
