In an age of same-game multis, fantasy betting, most disposals, quarter betting, doubles, and margins – one market has stood the test of time.
While there’s always going to be head-to-head and the line, it’s the first goal kicker that has always captured the imagination of Punters for generations.
The thrill, the value, and the speed of the money in the account.
There’s nothing quite like backing someone for the first goal and collecting nice and early and being able to enjoy the rest of the game knowing you’ve backed one (or most likely, missed out)
Themed games and rounds are all the thrill in AFL football these days, and for this week’s AFL Round 17 tips and preview are no exception as we present to you – FIRST GOAL KICKER WEEK!
That’s right, all nine games will have a tip for who will kick the first sausage roll.
There’s plenty of value here and if we back one or two, we should come out ahead.
Let’s rip into it!
A huge Thursday night game awaits us with both teams still a sniff for the top eight.
The Tigers and Swans first goal-kicking options is an absolute smorgasbord of choices with the likes of Logan McDonald, Jack Riewoldt, Tom Papley and Shai Bolton leading the market.
With Tom Lynch out for the rest of the season, Jack Riewoldt has been busier than expected but the Tiger veteran has lived up to his role and is just a shy 29 goals away from breaking Matthew Richardson’s 800 career goals.
If Jack can get the first one for the night, the Tigers should be right to bounce back last week Barry Crocker was in Brisbane and happy to stick with an old trusty favourite at the $10 on offer.
This clash between the 6th-placed Dogs and the top-of-the-ladder Pies should be a cracking Friday night blockbuster.
But who does one take for the first goal?
At the time of publication, Brody Mihocheck and Aaron Naughton are equal favourites at $9.50 to jag the first sausage roll.
For mine, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is in cracking form right now.
The number 1 pick was on fire against Freo last week with a match-winning four-goal effort in the Dogs win over Freo and with 20 goals from his last 15 and a perfect 10 in the coaches box, along with the Bont talking him up in the media this week, the $12 on offer for Jamarra to kick the first on Friday night is something I want in on.
Even if it wasn’t first goal kicker week on the Neds blog, you really wouldn’t bother with the head-to-head in this one.
Saturday at the Gabba will be Brisbane Lions open training and it’s going to be very grim for the poor old West Coast Eagles, even if they did have a crack last week.
As for the first goal kicker option, take your pick between Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron or Eric Hipwood.
Oscar Allen for West Coast is $9 for the first kick and possibly the best money one could possibly win involved the Eagles on the weekend, but I ain’t touching it.
Let’s go with Charlie Cameron at $8 for the first sausage roll and the estate of John Denver could expect a solid royalty cheque at the end of the game should he have a big day out.
Giants key forward Jake Riccardi has proven to be a dead-eye dick in front of goal, and with GWS playing the Hawks on Saturday – a club of which trade rumors have the Hawks interested in signing him up at the end of the season, he might want to show off a bit on Saturday.
Riccardi had a quiet day in the wet last week in Alice Springs last week, but back in the comforts of Giants Stadium, the $13 on offer for the first goal is worth a shot for a bit of value.
Hopefully an accurate one, resulting in a goal, and preferably the first one of the game.
At the moment Melbourne seems to dominate all over the ground, except for scoring which is pretty important to state the obvious.
I ain’t backing a Dees player for first goal in this one.
Since coming back in Round 10, Max King has averaged 2.3 goals a game and is the glue of the Saints forward line.
You’d think Melbourne will win the game, but hard to pass big Saint Max King for first goal at the $8.50 on offer.
While I’d love the idea of Dan Houston kicking the first goal in the next game after kicking an after-the-siren winner last weekend, that ain’t happening, given he’d be playing up the ground, but if you like the synergy of it – there’s $29 on offer.
Rather than back one of the favorites, Sam Powell-Pepper at $14 is pretty good value for the veteran medium forward.
He was held goalless last week against Essendon, but for him to sneak an early one at Adelaide Oval in front of the adoring Power faithful of where he plays his best footy is worth a shot.
You can take your usual suspects like Ben King, Jeremy Finlayson, Dixon, Lukosius but I’ll add a bit of SPP for some value.
This is pretty simple.
Geelong playing at home against North Melbourne.
The cats will win and one of these two will kick the first goal.
Take your pick out of either Jezza Cameron ($7) or Tom Hawkins ($7.50)
I’ll take the big Tomahawk at $7.50 and hopefully have this sorted within the first two minutes of the game.
What a beauty this should be!
You could even argue that the Dons v Crows game this Sunday is game of the round with both sides a very good chance to still make finals.
Under the roof at Marvel, it’ll be perfect conditions for football but the question remains: Just who will kick the first goal?
On one end, we have two-meter Peter Wright for the Dons, on the other, the veteran Taylor Walker for the Crows.
Let’s take Tex at the $9.
If Tex gets the first one on the road for the Crows, we should have a decent game of footy.
Harry’s had his issues.
He’s shanked a fair few during this season but the yips are starting to go away.
However, he was vital in the Blues win over the Hawks last week with two goals, 19 disposals, eight contested, and 11 score involvements.
His recent form has given me hope in Harry and that’s why I believe he can kick the first goal against Freo this Sunday twilight at Optus Stadium.