First Things First Posted on March 23, 2017June 7, 2018 | Posted by David Shortte As a keen punter I must admit to my long term interest in first goal scorer betting over the years. I know that the odds can be stacked against you with 44 players to choose from and some unusual results from time to time but I am also attracted to the instant return at the start of a game and the lure of a value priced commodity getting me a big result for a small outlay – it’s effectively my roulette spin of the AFL betting scene each week. Like any other time I have a bet though I like to do my homework before I put my money down. This year I decided to go through the weekly results from 2016 and analyse the results to see if there were any interesting findings in regards to players that bob up as first goal scorers at odds that can return me a profit. The reality of the situation is that some guys simply have a knack of getting off the chain early to score the first goal of the match. Some of the prolific goal kickers like Josh Kennedy and Eddie Betts stand out as obvious picks and they can make you some nice money but generally they go around as favourites – what I was interested to see was are there players at bigger odds that aren’t so obvious that can show up on numerous occasions in a season at good odds. The answer was a resounding yes. A few of the players that arrived on numerous occasions as long priced options were quite surprising. The biggest shock to me was the player that appeared as the most prolific first goal scorer of 2016. The player is a Sydney Swan but it is not Lance Franklin – it is none other than Gary Rohan. Gary Rohan scored the first goal of the match in 6 of the 18 games he played in 2016 at odds ranging from $13 to $21. Fair to say he will be carrying some of my coin in season 2017! Eddie Betts and Josh Kennedy were both first goal scorers on 5 separate occasions and returned tidy profits for their loyal fans that backed them each week. Ten unique players scored the first goal of the match on 3 occasions – a few of them at big odds stood out – Kane Lambert at odds ranging from $26 – $31, Tom Scully at $21 – $31 and Steven Motlop at $17 each time. Thirty four individual players kicked the first goal of the match twice for the season – a few at juicy odds such as Jack Viney $31 twice, Callan Ward at $29 twice, Michael Barlow – both at $26, David Zaharakis at $26 and $29, Tom Rockliff at $26 twice and Shaun Grigg at $26 twice. I will document below all of the Multiple Goal Scorers for the 2016 season and the TABtouch prices they were when they slotted the first major of the match. I will be specking the players mentioned above throughout the course of the 2017 season and hopefully having some nice jackpot results for small outlays. Good luck with your thoughts! Multiple First Goal Scorers in 2016 Gary Rohan (6 times in 18 games) Round 9 $21 Round 11 $21 Round 17 $21 Round 19 $13 Round 23 $13 Wk 2 Finals $13 Eddie Betts (5 times in 24 games) Round 2 $9 Round 5 $10 Round 12 $10 Round 17 $10 Round 21 $9 Josh Kennedy (WC) (5 times in 23 games) Round 5 $8 Round 8 $7 Round 22 $9 Round 23 $8 Wk 1 Finals $7 Kane Lambert (3 times in 15 games) Round 1 $26 Round 2 $31 Round 4 $31 Lance Franklin (3 times in 26 games) Round 1 $7 Round 8 $8 Round 20 $8 Tom Scully (3 times in 24 games) Round 1 $31 Round 8 $29 Round 12 $21 Tom Lynch (GC) (3 times in 22 games) Round 4 $7 Round 19 $8 Round 20 $9 Josh Jenkins (3 times in 24 games) Round 7 $11 Round 16 $11 Round 18 $10 Steven Motlop (3 times in 24 games) Round 8 $17 Round 22 $17 Week 1 Finals $17 Joe Daniher (3 times in 22 games) Round 9 $11 Round 12 $12 Round 22 $11 Jeff Garlett (3 times in 17 games) Round 9 $10 Round 17 $11 Round 18 $11 Josh Schache (3 times in 17 games) Round 12 $12 Round 14 $15 Round 17 $15 Ben Brown (3 times in 22 games) Round 18 $9 Round 20 $14 Round 23 $11 David Zaharakis (2 times in 21 games) Round 1 $26 Round 4 $29 Tom Rockliff (2 times in 17 games) Round 1 $26 Round 23 $26 Ben McEvoy (2 times in 23 games) Round 2 $21 Round 3 $21 Tom Hawkins (2 times in 23 games) Round 2 $8 Round 3 $6 Michael Walters (2 times in 22 games) Round 3 $9 Round 18 $9 Shaun Grigg (2 times in 20 games) Round 3 $26 Round 6 $26 Travis Boak (2 times in 22 games) Round 1 $26 Round 3 $23 Jack Watts (2 times in 22 games) Round 4 $17 Round 10 $17 Callan Ward (2 times in 24 games) Round 4 $29 Round 19 $29 James Sicily (2 times in 22 games) Round 4 $14 Wk. 2 Finals $14 Mason Cox (2 times in 11 games) Round 5 $13 Round 8 $13 Steve Johnson (2 times in 22 games) Round 5 $13 Round 11 $13 Dale Thomas (2 times in 18 games) Round 6 $21 Round 9 $21 Matt Taberner (2 times in 17games) Round 6 $21 Round 16 $15 Chris Mayne (2 times in 22 rounds) Round 7 $17 Round 8 $17 Justin Westhoff (2 times in 22 games) Round 7 $14 Round 15 $9 Jack Viney (2 times in 21 games) Round 8 $31 Round 12 $31 Drew Petrie (2 times in 23 games) Round 8 $8 Round 12 $12 Jeremy Cameron (2 times in 20 games) Round 9 $8 Round 14 $8 Tom Lynch (Adel) (2 times in 23 games) Round 9 $13 Round 14 $15 Jesse White (2 times in 16 games) Round 9 $15 Round 22 $11 Tory Dickson (2 times in 22 games) Round 10 $9 Round 19 $12 Ben Griffiths (2 times in 13 games) Round 10 $12 Round 12 $11 Dayne Zorko (2 times in 20 games) Round 10 $17 Round 19 $17 Michael Barlow (2 times in 13 games) Round 11 $26 Round 17 $26 Mark Lecras (2 times in 23 games) Round 13 $12 Round 17 $12 Jack Gunston (2 times in 24 games) Round 14 $8 Round 21 $8 Paddy McArtin (2 times in 11 games) Round 14 $13 Round 21 $13 Jay Schultz (2 times in 7 games) Round 16 $12 Round 17 $11 Robbie Gray (2 times in 19 games) Round 18 $15 Round 22 $15 Darcy Moore (2 times in 17 games) Round 19 $14 Round 21 $11 Shane Yarran (2 times in 6 games) Round 20 $21 Round 22 $15 Charlie Cameron (2 times in 20 games) Round 20 $15 Week 1 Finals $17 Clay Smith (2 times in 13 games) Round 23 $31 Week 3 Finals $15
Scott Embry’s Thursday Albany Preview January 27, 2026 RACE 1 MY TEA made an encouraging return to racing over 1200m from the rear of the field in a leader dominated event behind Bannered… Read More
Scott Embry’s Wednesday Ascot Preview January 27, 2026 RACE 1 FLAVOURSOME put in a ripper four back behind Rising Fame and then was sent out $2.80 favourite in the race won by Arpione… Read More
Glenn Ingram’s Wednesday Sandown Preview January 27, 2026 RACE 1 Small field for stayers at BM70 level, tactics will be at a premium with no speed engaged. EAGLE ANGEL likely leader with an… Read More
Matt Young’s Tuesday Narrogin Preview January 27, 2026 Race 1 ROSIES BETTOR (1) looks a talent based off just one trial, had push button acceleration and is bred to be highly talented, should… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Tuesday Greyhound Best Bets January 27, 2026 MANDURAH Race 6 No. 5 Rusty Rocket Was very good in defeat last week to the speedy Divot, that was from box 1, moves to… Read More
Scott Embry’s Monday Bunbury Preview January 23, 2026 RACE 1 DEEPEST DESIRE hasn’t been seen since trialling on 17 November and was scratched recently (again) so he’s clearly had a few issues to… Read More
Matt Young’s Monday Pinjarra Preview January 23, 2026 Race 1 MAJESTIC GA GA (6) is in rare air and looks to go on her winning way here, should get the job done as… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Pinjarra Preview January 23, 2026 RACE 1 FARADIO is a lightly raced 3 year old who takes on extremely limited and extremely exposed opposition. If he reproduces his third placing… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Sunshine Coast Preview January 22, 2026 RACE 1 Main meeting in Queensland on Saturday takes place at the Sunshine Coast where the track should be rated good or very close to… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Randwick Preview January 22, 2026 RACE 1 We race at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday under warm sunny skies on a good rated surface. The meeting gets underway with a… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview January 22, 2026 RACE 1 ETERNAL WINE looks a handy filly for Michael Lane. She won well on debut when sprinting hard and then either didn’t handle the… Read More
Glenn Ingram’s Friday Pakenham Preview January 22, 2026 RACE 1 The Maher stable has kept the covers on FUNDAMENTAL JOURNEY at the jumpouts, with an apprentice in the saddle for all of her… Read More