The AFL finals are the culmination of the best Australian rules football has to offer. Whether you’re new to the AFL in general or are already a big fan and want some hints on how to improve your bets, we’ve got everything you need – including tips, predictions, relevant promotions and even the best bookies for AFL finals 2022 betting.
- Tournament Structure for AFL Finals
- AFL Finals Odds, Betting Tips, Promotions & Predictions
- Reasons To Bet on AFL Finals
- AFL Finals Live Streaming
- Popular AFL Finals Betting Markets
- History of Australian Football League Finals
- Similar Tournaments to AFL Finals 2022
- Upcoming Sporting Events
- Australian Football League Finals Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Best Betting Sites for AFL Finals 2024 Betting
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Tournament Structure for AFL Finals
Even if you haven’t been paying close attention to the 2022 AFL season, there are still no barriers to getting involved now – the way the competition is structured is so simple you can drop in at any point without feeling lost. Here’s all you need to know to wrap your head around the AFL finals fixtures.
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The regular AFL season sees eighteen of Australia’s best battle it out across 23 home and away games. Four points are awarded for a win, two for a draw, nothing for a loss. The top eight scoring teams move onto the AFL finals. In 2022, this took place between the 16th of March and the 21st of August.
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This AFL finals fixtures are then held in a knockout format across qualifying finals, semi-finals, preliminary finals and finally, the AFL Grand Final. The way this works is simple – if a team loses the game, they are out of the series.
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Teams that finish in the top four get two routes to success through the finals series. They play in the week one qualifying finals, with the winner moving up to the preliminary finals and the loser still getting a chance at the semi-finals. The lower four ranked teams to qualify either move onto the semi-finals if they are victorious in the qualifying finals or are eliminated.
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Draws are relatively rare in AFL finals fixtures. In the case of a draw at the knockout phase, the teams will then play on with two three-minute halves. If there is no winner at the end of these halves, the process will be repeated until a winner emerges.
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The AFL Grand Final in 2022 will be played on the 24th of September. It will take place at Melbourne Cricket Ground, with an expected kick-off time of 2.30pm AEST.
AFL Finals Odds, Betting Tips, Promotions & Predictions
So, what would help our readers make the smartest wagers possible with the AFL finals 2022? Well, we’ve got the most competitive odds so you know what’s on offer, as well as some expert tips and predictions to help you make sense of those markets – a perfect foundation for better betting.
AFL Finals Betting Odds 2022
The AFL Grand Finals take place on 24th September, with the finalists being decided at the preliminaries held on the 16th and 17th of September. While odds are of course available on those games for anyone interested, our focus here is on the betting odds for the AFL Grand Finals showdown. This is the best our favourite bookies have to offer on the four remaining possible AFL premiers.
AFL Finals 2022 Betting Tips
Here are some simple tips to help you optimise your own betting strategy and better identify the right markets for you when it comes to AFL finals 2022 betting.
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Utilise the handicap markets The preliminary finals have clear favourites, and there’s a solid chance that the AFL Grand Finals will also have a clear favourite. If you agree that the chances are a little lopsided, then you may be able to find markets which work better for you by utilising the handicap markets. These are great for games like Australian Rules football, where the average score line is higher than what you may expect from the best association football betting sites.
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Study the previous games In terms of getting an in-depth understanding of the teams involved, nothing quite compares to having watched their most recent outings. However, if you’ve missed them, you can still get quite a lot of insight from studying the previous games as much as you can. Read up on the stats and any useful analysis you can find. This is even worthwhile if you have been following the tournament thus far, to help contextualise everything you’ve witnessed.
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Put your emotions to one side Big sporting events with a passionate fanbase like the AFL finals naturally come with a lot of emotion attached. While this is part of what makes sport so powerful and enjoyable, it doesn’t necessarily lead to the smartest betting strategy. If you’re emotionally invested in a game, consider whether you’re about to bet because you think it’s a wise wager or if it’s wishful thinking.
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Use general promotions There very well might be some specific AFL Grand Finals promotions closer to that event, however, no need to worry if not because there’s tons of great general sports promotions that you can use on the remaining AFL finals fixtures.
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Consider betting live Most of the best UK bookmakers will offer you the ability to bet live on the upcoming finals games, especially the final itself. This might be the best choice not just in terms of fun, but also tactically, as you can gage the flow of play and identify even more wagering opportunities.
AFL Finals 2022 Betting Predictions
We love a good underdog here – after all, that’s where you get your biggest returns. However, we’re going to have to agree with the bookmakers on this one. We do think that your finals will consist of the two favourites, Geelong and Sydney Swans, due to the consistent quality of their performances throughout the season.
And we’re also backing the favourites to win the whole thing. Often the bookies are off with their odds, but we can’t argue with their logic much here – just look at the 2022 AFL season standings. They were 8 points ahead of their nearest rival and haven’t lost since they fell to St Kilda on May 22nd, 2022, their fourth loss of the entire season. Their narrow victory over Collingwood showed they aren’t infallible, but to us still appear as likely champions.
The Gary Ayres Medal recognises who is considered the best player of the season. While that’s a pretty difficult thing to predict until the final game is played, we’re backing Luke Parker (Sydney) to take this prestigious award. There are other prime candidates in the likes of Lachie Neale (Brisbane) and Jordan De Goey (Collingwood). However, we think Parker’s team Sydney are going to make the final and that he could be a major factor in these last two AFL finals fixtures, and that may push him over the top here.
It’s been quite the season and there’s growing anticipation for that showdown on the 24th. The hope is that they are going to play in front of 100,000 fans at Melbourne Cricket Ground in what will truly be a historic AFL Grand Finals. Considering they are coming off two years of restricted crowds due to Covid precautions and generally, demand has been immense for the AFL finals, our prediction is simple…we think they’re going to do it.
We’ve got a few final contenders for the most goals in the AFL finals fixtures, with each team having a viable candidate. It could very well be the amazing Eric Hipwood (Brisbane), Jack Ginnivan (Collingwood) or Isaac Heeney (Sydney). However, based on our prediction for finals winners, we’re going with Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron. This is down to how adamant he is on his fitness following a hamstring injury, and an amazing record of 62 goals across 22 games in the AFL 2022 season.
AFL Finals Betting Promotions 2022
Whether they are offers specific to these finals or more general sporting promotions, have no doubt you’ll be spoiled for bonuses at the best Aussie Rules betting sites.
Here’s a small snippet of what’s out there.
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Some of the best promotions are the simplest. For example, the AFL Finals Multi Boost promotion by Unibet offers boosts across the entire series, with serious additions to your winnings that are paid out in cash. A fantastic enhanced odds offer.
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Our top pick for best AFL finals bookmaker comes through with an ultra-generous bet £10 get £50 in free bets Open Account Offer. Just deposit between £5 and £10 on bet365 to get five times your qualifying amount in free bets. These can be placed on any sports markets you see fit, including Aussie Rules football. Stake not included in winnings.
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A terrific example of a generally applicable sports promotion perfect for this tournament is the welcome offer from Paddy Power, where you get up to £20 cash back if your first bet loses. Ideal for AFL newcomers, or anyone looking for a betting bargain.
Reasons To Bet on AFL Finals
If you’re a fan of betting and great sporting events, then we think the AFL finals is a no-brainer for you to check out. But that could be said for many great sporting events from Wimbledon to Champions League betting. So what do we think the AFL finals does especially well to make it an extra special event to take a punt on?
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High scores provide greater betting opportunities: While low-scoring games like association football do provide great markets, there are opportunities provided through higher-scoring games that are uniquely enjoyable. That extra room can make points-based markets even better.
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It’s perfect for beginners and experts alike: The AFL is easy enough for anyone to drop into at any point while also having the depth to satisfy the most obsessive sports fan, a balance few others can pull off.
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No draw: Because the AFL finals are in knockout format, the possibility of a draw is taken out of the equation. If you’re backing a team to win, this simplifies things and allows you to back a team without worrying about the possibility of neither being successful.
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Broad coverage: Although Aussie Rules football might not have the same level of coverage as the likes of the Premier League in the United Kingdom, it is still very widely available. This is incredibly important because it means more competitive odds, a greater choice of bookmakers, and more promotions. Remember too that you can sign up to multiple bookmakers to take advantage of more bonus and betting opportunities.
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An ideal way of learning about a new sport: This won’t apply to everyone reading this, but if you are new and relatively inexperienced when it comes to the AFL, then we’ve got good news. This tournament is the perfect way to get involved. The format is simple and the market variety ideal for newcomers. Even if you have not yet got a team you support, you can put down a bet and add some intrigue until you find your favourites.
AFL Finals Live Streaming
Unfortunately, live streaming of AFL games via bookmakers is generally not available at the time of writing for licensing reasons. If you live outside of Australia, the best way to watch the games is through WatchAFL, a streaming service which offers a 2022 finals pass for £52. That said, plenty of great betting sites do offer excellent live coverage through information and graphics.
Popular AFL Finals Betting Markets
Multi-faceted and action packed, Australian Rules football enjoys one of the largest selections of betting markets of any sport. While plenty more is available, we’re going to show you five of the most popular markets to get you started.
To Win
Put simply, you can back a team to win their individual AFL finals fixtures or the entire tournament. This market is a classic, the bedrock upon which so many other more left-field markets lie.
Handicap
Handicap betting is hugely popular for Aussie Rules football and is especially worth considering during the AFL finals 2022. This allows you to bridge the gap between mismatched teams and demand either that the favourite win by more than the handicap, or the underdog to lose by less than that amount. This certainly adds intrigue to the game.
Total
Why back a team to win at all? If you’re stuck on who to back, then rest assured that the finest AFL finals sites have you covered. You can simply bet on whether the finals score will be over or under a certain amount.
First Scoring Play
One way to kick a game off with a bang is to bet on who will score first – no need to wait for the final score to see if you’ve won your bet. If the point of betting is to make your favourite sports even more exciting, there might not be a better example than this.
Gary Ayres Medal Winner
Alongside the many markets which bless each game of the AFL finals, there’s also a terrific selection of futures, including the Gary Ayres Medal Winner. Essentially, the coaches vote on a weekly basis on the top players to receive the honour of being considered the best player in the AFL finals. What’s interesting here is you are predicting the opinion of a group of experts, rather than something objective like a score line.
History of Australian Football League Finals
The history of the AFL is vast, so these are just some key points to give you an idea of how we have come to the current iteration of the AFL finals.
Many of you will be surprised to learn that the AFL finals have their origins back in the late 19th century, when the Victorian Football League was established in 1896. It consisted of eight clubs. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, even then, was the primary venue for the finals.
The version of the tournament used now began in 2000 and is known as the AFL final eight system.
Two significant changes took place in 1987, when the VFL expanded interstate, allowing non-Victorian clubs to host finals. This paved the way for the change from the VFL to the AFL finals in 1989.
A couple of years later in 1991, the rules were changed to allow for extra time to be played in the AFL finals. Previously, any draw would lead to a replay the following weekend and a delay of a week for all other teams.
Like so many sporting events, the AFL finals were hit hard by the impact of the pandemic – games were cancelled, venues changed, crowds restricted, which required massive changes to the tournament. The AFL finals 2022 is significant because it is the first since 2019 to not face huge crowd or venue restrictions owing to the pandemic.
Recent AFL Finals Winners
| Year | Premiers | Runners-Up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Melbourne | Western Bulldogs | 21.40 (140) – 10.6 (66) |
| 2020 | Richmond | Geelong | 12.9 (81) – 7.8 (50) |
| 2019 | Richmond | GWS Giants | 17.12 (114) – 3.7 (25) |
| 2018 | West Coast Eagles | Collingwood | 11.13 (79) – 11.8 (74) |
| 2017 | Richmond | Adelaide | 16.12 (108) – 8.12 (60) |
| 2016 | Western Bulldogs | Sydney | 13.11 (89) – 10.7 (67) |
| 2015 | Hawthorn | West Coast Eagles | 16.11 (107) – 8.13 (61) |
| 2014 | Hawthorn | Sydney | 21.11 (137) – 11.8 (74) |
| 2013 | Hawthorn | Fremantle | 11.11 (77) – 8.14 (62) |
| 2012 | Sydney Swans | Hawthorn | 14.7 (91) – 11.15 (81) |
AFL Finals Key Stats
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The record for most goals is held by Tony Lockett at a whopping 1,360 goals over 281 games. It began in 1983 with St Kilda and ended with the Sydney Swans 2002. What a legacy!
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Essendon and Carlton hold the joint record for most premierships at 16 apiece.
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The AFL Grand Finals have been replayed in full on 3 occasions.
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Only Carlton and Collingwood have been in the AFL since the inception of the finals, participating in 125 seasons each.
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Collingwood are also historic for being runners-up a whopping 27 times.
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The longest premiership “drought”, that is full seasons played between premierships, is held by South Melbourne/Sydney, who waited 72 seasons before finally winning the premiership in 2005.
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The average attendance to an AFL game is around 31,000, meaning 100,000 for the AFL Grand Final truly would be something special.
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However, it would still have some way go to top the 121,696 strong record from Collingwood vs Carlton at MCG Grand Final in 1970.
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Geelong also has the distinction of holding the record for the biggest score record. In 1992 Geelong defeated Brisbane 37-17 (239) – 11.9 (75).
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St Kilda hold the unfortunate distinction as the holder of most wooden spoons, having come bottom of the AFL finals 27 times.
Similar Tournaments to AFL Finals 2022
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16th October – 13th November 2022, Men’s T20 World Cup Australia’s chance to hold the T20 tournament comes at the end of this year. Not only that, but as defending champions, the home team have the chance to cement the love from their country after with this fast and furious version of cricket. It will also come down to a nail-biting knockout finale.
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1st November 2022 – Melbourne Cup There is not much in common between the AFL Finals and the Melbourne Cup in terms of structure, nor between Aussie Rules football and horse racing betting generally. However, there is a distinct similarity in terms of cultural importance. This is a celebration of all things Australian sports related, just like the AFL finals.
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12th February 2023, Super Bowl LVII While there are distinctions, there can be no doubt that there is a larger number of similarities between the four quarters which make up Australian Rules football and NFL betting. So, if you are in the mood for a similar experience on just as huge a scale, the Super Bowl might be right up your alley.
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July- September 2023, The Ashes From T20 to test cricket, Australia loves cricket in all its forms, and there is none more singularly important than The Ashes, a series played since 1882 between Australia and England. An obituary of English cricket may have created this event, but it is the athletes which created a legend.
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8th September – 28th October 2023, Rugby World Cup Aside from American Football, Australian Rules football is most often compared to Rugby. And although the rules are distinct, we think most of those who like one will like the other. And if that is the case, then where else to look but the ultimate international example – the Rugby World Cup. Plus, the best rugby betting sites have similar markets to AFL.
Upcoming Sporting Events
Australian Football League Finals Betting FAQs
It takes place between the 1st and 24th September.
The AFL finals consists of eight different teams. In 2022 they are Geelong, Melbourne, Sydney, Collingwood, Fremantle, Brisbane Lions, Richmond, and Western Bulldogs.
All eight teams which make it to the finals series qualify through the regular AFL season. 23 games are played across 18 teams, with four points being awarded for a win and two being awarded for a draw. The top two eight teams then make it to the AFL finals.
The AFL finals is a knockout competition consisting of qualifying, semi-finals, preliminary finals, and the AFL Grand Finals. If a team wins, they move forward, if they lose, they are out, until a champion is crowned.
There are many great bookies that provide AFL markets. Our favourites include bet365, SBK, Betfair, Paddy Power, and Unibet.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The 2022 season of the AFL finals is coming to a close, and if you’re wondering whether there is still time to get involved, the answer is yes. Even total newcomers can find this tournament easy to follow and bet on, while experts have all the market variety and sporting depth they could ever want. It’s exciting, action-packed, and historic.
This also means there’ll be competitive odds, awesome market variety and promotional goodies to be enjoyed as the best bookies do everything they can to get your attention. This year’s AFL Grand Final is looking like an absolute feast for all sports and betting fans, and we cannot recommend it highly enough to both.