AFL First Goal Scorer Trends

Posted on June 8, 2017June 7, 2018 | Posted by David Shortte

Brown Lights It up Early

Approaching the half way mark of the season I thought it would be a good idea to have a look at any trends that have emerged in regards to first goal scorers in season 2017 and there is one clear standout.

That fellow is Kangaroos big man Ben Brown who has slotted the first goal of the match in five of the eleven matches he has played in this season. Incredibly he slotted the first goal in rounds 18,20 and 23 of last season meaning he has now kicked the first goal of the game in 8 of the last 16 matches he has played in! When you consider he has been at double figure odds on 6 of those 8 occasions his loyal followers have made a killing.

Three separate players have slotted the first goal of the game on three occasions. Sam Reid from Sydney, Joe Daniher from Essendon and Luke Bruest from Hawthorn have all been hot early in games in the first half of this season.

Sixteen other players have been the first goal scorer in matches twice this season. They are listed in full below but those at bigger odds to have bobbed up twice include Jade Gresham at Saint Kilda ($23 both times), Trent Cotchin at Richmond ($26 both times) and Patrick Dangerfield at Geelong ($17 both times).

I did a piece prior to round one on the stars of last season in regards to first goal scorer and the big three from last season are yet to get warm in season 2017. Gary Rohan scored the first goal in 6 of his 18 appearances last season but is yet to score an opening major this season while Eddie Betts and Josh Kennedy after both scoring the opening goal on 5 individual instances last season have only managed one apiece so far this season.

First Goal Scorer betting definitely has an element of luck about it – I referred to it as “the roulette wheel of AFL betting” in my column earlier this season but as these stats once again show some players are a lot more likely to make you money than others.

I hope the figures help you to find a few winners in the back half of the season.

Good Punting!

David Shortte

Multiple First Goal Scorers in 2017

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