It was a year of surprises and upsets, but when the pressure of favouritism was on, which teams stood up and which crumbled?
Adelaide
Season result: first (15 wins, six losses, one draw)
Times favourites: 19 (Equal first in the league)
Won when favourites: 14
Percentage won when favourites: 74 per cent (6th in the league)
Adelaide’s season was never in doubt. Although being favourites in just about every game, they won all but for when it mattered most.
Brisbane
Season result: 18th (five wins, 17 losses)
Times favourites: two (17th in the league)
Won when favourites: one
Percentage won when favourites: 50 per cent (equal 13th in the league)
Making it easier for Brisbane, they didn’t really know what it was like to be backed in a favourite, so winning one out of the two games that they were is a pass.
Carlton
Season result: 16th (six wins, 16 losses)
Times favourites: one (18th in the league)
Won when favourites: zero
Percentage won when favourites: 0 per cent (18th in the league)
Luckily for Blues fans, their side won six games as the outsiders. But, in saying that, they were only among the favourites once and failed to beat the Lions in Round 18.
Collingwood
Season result: 13th (nine wins, 12 losses, one draw)
Times favourites: nine (10th in the league)
Won when favourites: four
Percentage won when favourites: 44 per cent (17th in the league)
Punters were sucked into backing the Pies when they thought they were hot. And whenever you thought that the Pies were cold enough, the insides would burn their mouths, and could no longer enjoy it.
Essendon
Season results: seventh (12 wins, ten losses)
Times favourites: eight (equal 11th in the league)
Won when favourites: six
Percentage won when favourites: 75 per cent (equal third in the league)
The underrated Bombers were happy to fly under the radar all season, which is probably the first time in five years, and although ranked 11th for times as favourites, managed six upset wins and snuck into the top eight.
Fremantle
Season result: 14th (eight wins, 14 losses)
Times favourites: six (Equal 14th in the league)
Won when favourites: four
Percentage won when favourites: 67 per cent (10th in the league)
Credit to the Dockers, they won 50 per cent of their games as outsiders, and did better than most expected them too… And they still have Nat Fyfe.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
Geelong
Season result: second (15 wins, six losses, one draw)
Times favourites: 16 (equal fourth in the league)
Won when favourites: 12
Percentage won when favourites: 75 per cent (equal third in the league)
Every year since Geelong’s last premiership, they have been a chance, but never much of one. Champion teams – not champion players – win comps, so poaching other teams’ best each year only gets you so far.
Gold Coast
Season result: 17th (six wins, 16 losses)
Times favourites: six (14th in the league)
Won when favourites: three
Percentage won when favourites: 50 per cent (equal 13th in the league)
Gold Coast is almost like the Giants’ jealous older brother. Every year you think that they’re going to more mature, and be the best, but they’ve never managed to be as intelligent, good looking or as well liked as their younger sibling.
Greater Western Sydney
Season result: fourth (14 wins, six losses, two draws)
Times favourites: 19 (equal first in the league)
Won when favourites: 13
Percentage won when favourites: 68 per cent (9th in the league)
The Giants won 13 out of their 14 games as favourites, showing if they were backed, they would most likely win. If only they were favourites in the finals series, but in reality they got as much support from the bookies as they did in their preliminary final against Richmond.
Hawthorn
Season result: 12th (10 wins, 11 losses, one draw)
Times favourites: eight (equal 11th in the league)
Won when favourites: 4
Percentage won when favourites: 50 per cent (equal 13th in the league)
The Hawks were in a position they were not used to this season – the ex, someone who used to be so good, but now not so much. Credit to Hawthorn, they played this role well and won six games as outsiders.
Melbourne
Season result: ninth (12 wins, ten losses)
Times favourites: 12 (ninth in the league)
Won when favourites: seven
Percentage won when favourites: 58 per cent (11th in the league)
Melbourne’s season was summed up in Round 8, against Adelaide, and Round 23, against Collingwood – when they were supposed to win, they lost. When they were supposed to lose, they won.
At least by now, supporters are used to disappointment.
[latest_videos_strip category=”afl” name=”AFL”]
North Melbourne
Season result: 15th (six wins, 16 losses)
Times favourites: four (16th in the league)
Won when favourites: 2
Percentage won when favourites: 50 per cent (equal 13th in the league)
North Melbourne had an ‘almost’ season, but they just didn’t know how to win games. Bookies saw red lights, and rightly so.
Port Adelaide
Season result: fifth (14 wins, eight losses)
Times favourites: 16 (equal fourth in the league)
Won when favourites: 12
Percentage won when favourites: 75 per cent (equal third in the league)
Port Adelaide was like having your third child – you just never paid them any attention. If the game was at home, or in China, and Port were favourites, they won.
Richmond
Season result: third (15 wins, seven losses)
Times favourites: 14 (equal seventh in the league)
Won when favourites: 11
Percentage won when favourites: 79 per cent (second in the league)
The Tigers could just be one of the greatest stories to come out of 2017. Bookies kept finding excuses not to pick them, and as a result they ended up with egg on their faces.
St Kilda
Season result: 11th (11 wins, 11 losses)
Times favourites: eight (equal 11th in the league)
Won when favourites: 7
Percentage won when favourites: 88 per cent (1st in the league)
Whenever the Saints were favourites, they found a way to win. If St Kilda finished the season off better, they may have even snuck into the finals. And if they were favourites, who knows what could have happened?
Sydney
Season result: sixth (14 wins, eight losses)
Times favourites: 18 (third in the league)
Won when favourites: 13
Percentage won when favourites: 72 per cent (7th in the league)
After losing the first six games of the season, you would think punters would stay away from the struggling Swans. But this didn’t stop them, and Sydney bounced back well, winning 14 of the last 16 games.
West Coast
Season Result: eighth (12 wins, ten losses)
Times Favourites: 16 (equal fourth in the league)
Won when favourites: nine
Percentage won when favourites: 56 per cent (12th in the league)
Favourites or not, West Coast knew how to win at home. However, due to their hot form in Perth, punters kept getting sucked into backing them away from home, and we all saw how that worked out.
Western Bulldogs
Season result: 10th (11 wins, 11 losses)
Times favourites: 14 (equal seventh in the league)
Won when favourites: 10
Percentage won when favourites: 71 per cent (8th in the league)
The reigning premiers, although missing out on the eight, were still able to win games when backed – their problem was more they just weren’t backed to win enough times.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
"It looked like it was gonna go for miles - and then it went nowhere!"
Footy's getting closer and closer to taking over the US!
What on earth was this question from BT!?!
Mitch Georgiades' mates have no chill!
On the scoreboard, it looks like a creditable St Kilda performance. A loss to a Port Adelaide outfit many see as a premiership contender…
Was this Darcy Byrne-Jones mark correctly paid or not?
