More Money for Sydney to beat Adelaide, punters avoid Hawthorn

SYDNEY is all the rage this weekend, while punters have deserted premiers Hawthorn ahead of Friday night’s crunch clash with Adelaide.

The Swans have dominated TAB betting markets despite going down to the Crows at Adelaide Oval last week.

Lance Franklin will need every bit of his hot early season form to guide the Swans to victory over West Coast.

Franklin is equal second in the Coleman Medal race with 16 goals — two behind Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch.

“Punters haven’t been put off by the fact the Swans lost last week, particularly the one punter who has bet $4,000 at $1.75,” TAB’s Nick Quinn said.

The Bombers have stabilised in the market after firming from $5.50 into $3 on the back of last Saturday’s hard-fought loss to Geelong.

But it’s Melbourne that continues to attract support ahead of its Sunday night clash with Richmond.

The much-improved Demons will regain the services of Bernie Vince after he served a one-match ban for striking Kangaroo Jamie Macmillan.

The Tigers will be bolstered with the return of Ivan Maric — replacing injured Shaun Hampson — while Brett Deledio remains a possibility as he attempts to prove he has overcome a quad problem at training this week.

WHAT’S HOT

Sydney ($1.75) — Despite this match looking likely to go down to the wire, the Swans have been the best backed team of the round, with 73 per cent of the market.

Essendon ($3.00) — They are the $3 outsider but have come in from $5.25 following Collingwood’s lose to Melbourne. As a result punters are jumping on, with 67 per cent of the market going on Essendon.

“This one is now one of the most intriguing matches of the round. The form Collingwood has been in its no surprise that punter are thinking the $3.00 on Essendon is overs,” Quinn said.

Melbourne ($1.90) — The market is split at $1.90, but punters think Melbourne should be favourites, with 70 per cent of all head-to-head money going on the Demons.

“Other than their hiccup against Essendon, Melbourne’s form stacks up and punters are going into this one confident they won’t have a slip,”