$1 million Ben Cousins
Adam Hamilton | March 13, 2009
BEN Cousins has been backed to win more than $1 million in Brownlow Medal betting.
Betting shops Darwin Sportsbet, Sportingbet Australia and Eskander's Betstar all said Cousins was by far their worst result after a flood of money this week.
And TAB Sportsbet, always the biggest player in Brownlow betting, faces a payout of almost $450,000 if Cousins wins.
Cousins, 31 in June, is chasing his second Brownlow after winning it as a West Coast player in 2005.
Only three players have won the Brownlow aged 31: Nathan Buckley (2003), Barry Round (1981) and Kevin Murray (1969).
Darwin Sportsbet's Phil Hannah said Cousins had been backed from an average of $41 to $26 or shorter this week.
He is into $21 equal third favourite with Lance Franklin at TAB Sportsbet. Only Gary Ablett ($7) and Chris Judd ($8) are shorter.
"It's been a very serious go right across the board. You'll find the punters have bet everywhere," Hannah said.
"The biggest single bet we've taken was $2000 on Cousins at $34 on Wednesday. Cousins, Gary Ablett and Chris Judd are the three the punters have focused on with us, but Cousins is our worst result.
"We're standing him for almost $200,000."
Betstar's Nick Heathcote said Cousins was a good result for his book until Wednesday, when a punter wagered $3400 at $31, standing to collect $105,400.
"He's now a $150,000-plus payout for us, which makes him our worst," he said.
"We've slashed his odds to $17 after giving $41."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25178887-19742,00.html