Where the money went on the weekend

[Dutchy]

MOST bookmakers were singing Melbourne's praises last night after its heroics against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG. The "most" is necessary because of the foresight and extreme courage of a punter who had $100,000 on Melbourne at three-quarter time with Sportsbet in Darwin.

"They were winning by eight points, but we gave him $2.25 (Brisbane was $1.65) and he worked very hard and very successfully for a $125,000 profit," Phil Hannah of Sportsbet said.

"That single bet put a hole in what could have been a very good result, although we did win well through multis.

"We took a bet of $100,000 at $1.29 on the Hawthorn-Brisbane double and $95,000 at $1.57 about Brisbane into Australia winning the second one-day international."

At Sportingbet, the Demons' brave last-gasp win resulted in one of its biggest upsets in three years and a $280,000 profit.

"We had a bet of $50,000 on Brisbane at $1.17 and by the time they jumped Melbourne was friendless and out to $6 with the line at 34.5 points," Trent Booth of Sportingbet said.

"We also had $15,000 at $1.22 on Brisbane at quarter-time and the other good result for us was Carlton beating Richmond.

"It's amazing what one player (Chris Judd) can do. As news of his withdrawal grew, Richmond was $2 into $1.57 and Carlton $1.80 out to $2.45.

"The other winner for us was the head-to-head goal shootout between Lance Franklin and Hawthorn teammate Jarryd Roughead. We took $20,000 on Franklin at $1.70, forcing him into $1.60, with Roughead blowing $2.10 out to $2.25.

"Roughead getting up by one goal, six to five was a good winner for us."

At the top end of the ladder the Western Bulldogs are now into second favouritism for the premiership with TAB Sportsbet.

"It's impossible to keep ignoring them and we now have them at $4.80, a shade ahead of Hawthorn at $5," Gary Davies of TAB Sportsbet said.

"Naturally, Geelong remains warm favourites, but there is nothing flash about $2.10 with three months to go.

"The Melbourne game was a very good result for us, although one punter had $20,000 on the Demons at $6.50 to win $130,000.

"In the Brownlow it is just total Gazza mania, with the Geelong midfield maestro beginning the week at $1.80 before we turned him into $1.75 and a further turn into $1.70."

TAB Sportsbet also took a bet of $80,000 at $1.53 on Fremantle.

Sportsbet in Darwin was claimed for $20,000 on the Bombers at $2.80 and a further $20,000 at $1.92 for the 13.5 point start.

The hapless West Coast Eagles have, for the first time, inherited wooden spoon favouritism from the Demons.

"Who would have thought the 2006 premiers would be a genuine chance of adding a spoon made out of wood to those premiership medallions?" Gary Davies of TAB Sportsbet said.

"We also have good support for Jason Akermanis in the Brownlow Medal and he is now into an $11 third favourite behind the runaway, red-hot pops in Ablett and Adam Cooney, with Simon Black easing after two very quiet weeks."