Rumours over big-name omissions hit bets on Lions
Courier Mail | July 24, 2008
BETTING on Brisbane's round-17 AFL clash was suspended after word of a big-name omission from the Lions prompted a plunge on the Tigers.
Bookmakers had concerns inside information on team selections had been leaked to the market and suspected it could only be about captain Jonathan Brown.
But the reigning Coleman medallist completed a full training session last night which is a rare occurrence under his modified training regime.
Instead, it is his co-captain Luke Power who is in doubt, while Daniel Bradshaw is also sore and was restricted to light duties.
Sportingbet Australia's betting manager Bill Richmond said Brown was one of only a few players in the competition capable of causing such a plunge.
"There are only a few players who would move a betting market that far," he said.
"It would suggest one of Brisbane's absolute superstars must be in big doubt."
On the evidence from last night's training session, Power looms as the most likely withdrawal.
Darwin-based Sportingbet took three separate bets totalling more than $20,000 before suspending betting on the game.
The plunge started with a $6000 bet at $1.90, then a $10,000 punt at $1.87, and a final $5000 at $1.80.
Betting reopened last night with the Tigers paying $1.65 for a win.
The TAB took a $20,000 bet on Richmond and it is understood Centrebet was also flooded with big money for the Tigers during the day.
Richmond said the size and timing of the bets also raised suspicions.
"Big money normally comes at the start of the week when we open betting markets or on game day," Richmond said.
"When money comes in the middle of the week it normally suggests an injury cloud over a key player."
Power injured his shoulder in last Saturday night's 46-point victory over the Eagles and was unable to participate last night.
It would be unusual for a midfielder to influence betting so heavily, but with the Tigers appearing to have greater pace than Brisbane the loss of one of their best runners would be a huge blow.
Should Power be ruled out, Jed Adcock would loom as the most likely replacement. Adcock was listed as injured last week and missed the West Coast clash.
But the rising star raised suspicions his absence may have been form-related when he told the chairman's circle function before the Eagles match that he was fit enough to play.
Lions coach Leigh Matthews said the club had taken a cautious approach with Adcock because there was an element of mystery surrounding his injury.
"Jed Adcock's scans seem to show that he had a little bit of damage to his non-kicking quad and if that's the case, you usually miss a few weeks," he said.
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