Round 5 of the 2023 AFL season — the first ever Gather Round — saw the year’s biggest individual performance, while the Dons and Crows continued to impress.
Here’s how it looked for punters:
Star’s $91 second half
Kicking off the Round 5 Review is one of the biggest individual performances of the 2023 season to date.
Sydney’s Friday night tussle with Richmond was one of several intriguing arm wrestles across the inaugural Gather Round. The 44-point margin did not the nature of the match as the Swans — the youngest of all 18 sides across the weekend — sealed a win to remember. The key reason behind that blowout margin (the Swans were $5.30 to win by 40+ points pre-game) was Tom Papley. The livewire forward/part-time burst midfielder had no goals to his name at half-time and looked at long odds to bag four goals ($10 pre-game), something he hadn’t done since the 2021 AFL season. But Papley went on to do that, and more. Some brilliant forward-craft goals were topped with a few easy out-the-back majors as Papley finished with an incredible six-goal haul. That feat was $91 pre-game with Palmerbet — all bagged in the second half. He celebrated as you’d imagine.
Sit backkkk and relaxxxx, and enjoy the Papley show 😎
All SIX of his goals from last night, and just because we can, are our Goal(s) of the Week, presented by @originenergy pic.twitter.com/mOsiJ5YzI8
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) April 15, 2023
Tigers, Dons head in opposite directions
Prior to the 2023 season kicking off, many were buying Richmond shares. With the addition of big off-season recruits, the general consensus was that the Tigers would yet again be challenging in September. Conversely, many were selling Essendon shares. A bottom-four finish and sacked coach last season hardly inspired confidence. However five games in, and many are now doing the opposite.
Richmond’s loss to Sydney sees them with just one win heading into AFL Round 6. Some may argue the Tigers have had a tricky draw to start, but Damien Hardwick’s side have not come close to stringing four quarters together this year. Essendon, by contrast, are humming. The Bombers’ upset over Melbourne as $3.35 outsiders was the second-biggest upset of the season to date, behind North Melbourne’s $5.50 boil-over against Fremantle. The win sees them into second, at 4-1 with ladder-leading (and equal surprise packet) St Kilda, and Collingwood.
At this (albeit early) stage of the season, Richmond and Essendon are heading in opposite directions. The Tigers have drifted from $1.22 AFL Top 8 hopes out to $2.00, while the Bombers have shortened from $4.50 into $2.50.
"I thought their performance was a reflection of Damien Hardwick's media conference the previous week."@kanecornes calls out the Tigers' lack of discipline, with the club headed for the 'end of an era'. #9AFLSFS | @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/QIWt29OlNP
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) April 16, 2023
Something to Crow about
Few teams have gone through the peaks and troughs as much as Adelaide in recent years. From AFL Grand Finalists in 2017 to wooden spooners in 2020 and two bottom-five finishes to follow — not to mention huge off-field issues to boot — the Crows have created many joyous times for their fans of late. That, however, looks to have changed.
A fortnight after a stirring Derby win, Adelaide kicked off Gather Round in the most impressive fashion, hammering Carlton despite starting as $2.00 underdogs. With the footy world watching, Matthew Nicks’ side were hard around the contest and clinical by hand and foot outside of it, making (then) second-placed Carlton look decidedly second-rate. The 56-point thumping represented a 10-goal swing on the pre-game line. And it begs the question: Are the Crows on for their first September appearance in six years? Starting the season as $4.50 AFL Top 8 chances with Palmerbet, Adelaide are now into $2.00.
"The pressure Adelaide (is) applying is at finals level.”
Adelaide's stock continues to rise following statement win over Carlton | https://t.co/wZQWMmpNf1 | #AFLCrowsBlues pic.twitter.com/5JvKTY2D3M
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) April 13, 2023
