The theme of recent Grand Finals has been for the outsiders to firm in the countdown to the game, but it's a very different story this week with betting shops around Australia.
The avalanche of support for Collingwood continued when Sportingbet Australia took a thumping $150,000 bet at $1.42 for the Pies to win yesterday.
"It's one-way traffic. The money has been for the Pies all week, but it pushed up to make a change from $1.42 to $1.40 after the $150,000 bet came in," Sportingbet Australia's chief executive Michael Sullivan said.
"There's also been big money for a Collingwood blowout. The Pies to win by 40-plus points has been $3.50 into $3.20.
"The weight of money tells us the Pies will crunch right in and start somewhere around $1.33 to $1.35."
It has been the same story with Betfair, Betstar, sportsbet.com.au and Sports Alive.Betfair reported a $50,000 matched bet on the Pies at $1.46 and has the Saints out to $3.10.
"There's also been a $7000 bet on the Pies half-time/full-time double at $1.80," Betfair's Jake Norton said.
TAB Sportsbet's popularity with the general punting public has seen stronger support for the Saints with it than other betting shops.
"As the game approaches the punters are definitely leaning towards St Kilda at the $2.70," TAB Sportsbet's Gary Davies said.
"We are trying to lay Collingwood at $1.45 as the money is coming for St Kilda at $2.70. Maybe your average punter is happy to take the $2.70 on one side as opposed to stepping into the $1.45."
Sportsbet.com.au is one of few betting shops cheering for Collingwood after a client plonked a record AFL bet of $500,000 at $6 (to collect $3 million) on St Kilda before it ended a streak of two losses and a draw with victory against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium in Round 19.
The biggest single bet on the Saints so far this week was the $37,800 matched at $3.15 on Betfair.
Betting interest in the Norm Smith medal grows every year with Dane Swan ($7 into $5.50 with Sportingbet Australia) the favourite. Betfair matched a $1800 bet on Nick Riewoldt at $11 (to collect $19,800), while Brendon Goddard has firmed from $14 to $12 with Betstar.
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