Sportsbet Blog

Little separates the Melbourne clubs ahead of their A-League derby at AAMI Park on Saturday night with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au opening the Melbourne Heart at $2.50 and the Melbourne Victory at $2.75.

“Punters have been split down the middle to this point,” sportsbet’s Ben Hawes said. “It’s been a while between drinks for both sides so the draw at $3.35 could be an appealing option.”

The Central Coast Mariners will start as the $2.10 favourites in their Grand Final replay clash against Brisbane with the Roar the $3.40 outsiders while Sydney FC are overwhelming favourites to beat Newcastle, priced at $1.91 and the Jets at $4.00.

“With news Vitezslav Lavicka is leaving at seasons end we expect the Sydney players to make a statement and we’re very confident they’ll account for Newcastle at home,” Hawes said.

In Monday night’s match, Perth Glory are $1.80 favourites and Gold Coast United the $4.25 outsiders.

Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au Melbourne Heart v Melbourne Victory – Saturday, 4 February $2.50 Melbourne Heart $3.35 Draw $2.75 Melbourne Victory

Central Coast v Brisbane Roar – Saturday, 4 February $2.10 Central Coast $3.35 Draw $3.40 Brisbane Roar

Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets – Sunday, 5 February $1.91 Sydney FC $3.40 Draw $4.00 Newcastle Jets

Perth Glory v Gold Coast United – Monday, 6 February $1.80 Perth Glory $3.40 Draw $4.25 Gold Coast United

A-League Grand Final Winner (prices from Thursday, 2 February 2012 in brackets) $2.87 Central Coast Mariners (steady) $3.10 Brisbane Roar (out from $2.87) $9.50 Perth Glory (in from $12) $9.50 Wellington Phoenix (in from $10) $12 Sydney FC (steady)

$14 Melbourne Heart (out from $10) $18 Melbourne Victory (out from $15) $19 Adelaide United (out from $14) $23 Newcastle Jets (in from $41) $61 Gold Coast United (steady)

Round 10 of the Hyundai A-League will be stretched over the next month with for games this weekend and the fifth round 10 game will be played at the start of November. Heading into this mid-season break, Sydney FC has taken top spot on the A-League ladder.

After Perth Glory and Gold Coast United both finished level with their opponents last weekend, Sydney FC has once again claimed top place and Melbourne Victory has jumped up in to second.

Adelaide United tied 1-1 with the Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh stadium on Monday.

Perth Glory V Adelaide United

7:00pm Friday Night at ME Bank Stadium

Perth Glory has showed their strength over the last few rounds and I would expect that they take the win in this round 10 game with ease. Adelaide United just does not have the strength this season to stay in this game.

My Prediction: Perth Glory – Odds of $2.10

Melbourne Victory V Sydney FC

8:00pm Friday Night at Etihad Stadium

With the current form of Melbourne Victory I would expect them to be able to step up and take the win. This will be a close game however as both teams will be competing for top spot on the A-league table. I like the score line of 2-1.

Tip: Melbourne Victory – Odds of $2.00

Central Coast Mariners V North Queensland Fury

3:00pm Sunday at Bluetongue Stadium

The Central Coast Mariners should easily take the win here. North Queensland has only taken 1 win this year and overall they have not played well. The Mariners on the other hand are a quality side and will not lose easily.

Tip: Central Coast Mariners – Odds of $1.70

Brisbane Roar V Gold Coast United

4:00pm Saturday Afternoon at Suncorp Stadium

The recent run of poor form that Gold Coast United has produced leads me to question how competitive they can be for the remainder of the season. Brisbane Roar has maintained steady form this season and they should at least challenge for the victory.

Tip: Draw – Odds of $3.15

Wellington Phoenix V Newcastle Jets

8:00pm Monday 4^th November at Westpac Stadium

With this match not being played until the start of November, I cannot give a fair opinion. Anything could happen over the mid-season break, but for now I would back the Newcastle Jets.

Tip: Newcastle Jets

The Hyundai A-League is becoming incredibly competitive now that we move into round 9. What originally appeared as though it could be a blow-out 2009 A-league season now has three teams tied for first spot on the ladder.

Gold Coast United took their second loss in a row and third for the season last weekend while Perth Glory won and is now level on points with the top ranked side. Sydney FC, now ranked third, also took a loss.

The remaining 2 games saw Adelaide United take a much needed win while Wellington Phoenix and the Central Coast Mariners had a 0-0 stalemate.

Gold Coast United V Wellington Phoenix

8:00pm Friday Night at Skilled Park

Gold Coast United is in need of a win after losing their last two matches and I believe that they will get it this week. Wellington Phoenix is far from being the strongest outfit in the A-league and that will show on Friday night.

Tip: Gold Coast United – Odds of $1.41

Perth Glory V North Queensland Fury

3:30pm Saturday at ME Bank Stadium

This is a similar story to Friday night’s match. The Perth Glory is far too strong for North Queensland and I would expect them to unleash the fury on the Fury. In fact, I would be very surprised if the Perth side slots in less than 3 goals.

Tip: Perth Glory – Odds of $1.03

Melbourne Victory V Brisbane Roar

7:30pm Saturday at Etihad Stadium

This round 9 match-up will surely be quite competitive. The two teams are ranked equally only one point away from the A-league leaders. I wouldn’t expect a result better than a draw for either side here, but it should be a great game to watch.

Tip: Draw – Odds of $3.10

Sydney FC V Central Coast Mariners

3:00pm Sunday Afternoon at Sydney Football Stadium

Sydney FC has been near the top of the ladder all season so far and a loss here could very well see them fall a fair way down. The Central Coast Mariners have the perfect opportunity on Sunday to take at least a top 3 place and I would expect them to do so after Sydney FC’s recent form.

Tip: Central Coast Mariners – Odds of $3.05

Adelaide United V Newcastle Jets

4:30pm Sunday Afternoon at Hindmarsh Stadium

This should be another competitive game with both teams floating around the bottom of the ladder. Newcastle has lost their last 3 games and I would think that this will become number 4. Adelaide had a much needed win last week and they should easily do it again.

Tip: Adelaide United – Odds of $1.85

The Hyundai A-League results continue to surprise many sports fans with results that seem to be unpredictable. Round 8 is now upon us and it is bound to be interesting.

Gold Coast United took a surprise upset with a 3-0 loss to the Central Coast Mariners. Adelaide United has suffered yet another loss this time at the hands of Melbourne going down 2-0.

Wellington Phoenix and North Queensland have taken a draw while Sydney FC and Perth Glory were both able to take a win.

Newcastle Jets V Perth Glory

8:00pm Friday Night at EnergyAustralia Stadium

I really cannot see anything but a draw in this match-up. Both teams have been playing rather average over the last few weeks and if anyone is to take the win then I would expect it to be the Perth Glory. Overall they are the better side here and we’ll see who has what it takes on Friday night.

Tip: Draw – Odds of $3.50

Gold Coast United V Melbourne Victory

7:30pm Saturday at Skilled Park

Gold Coast United continue to maintain top spot in the A-league even after last week’s 3-0 thrashing. With their form other the last couple of weeks it is hard to pick them although I do have a belief that they are professional enough to move past it. Melbourne should provide a challenge but not enough to win

Tip: Gold Coast United – Odds of $2.24

Brisbane Roar V Sydney FC

3:00pm Sunday Afternoon at Suncorp Stadium

Both teams here are more than capable of taking the victory in round 8 of the A-league. Brisbane has the odds that would suggest they are going to win although you cannot look past Sydney FC who currently sit in second place only by goal difference. My prediction is nothing more than a draw.

Tip: Draw – Odds of $3

Wellington Phoenix V Central Coast Mariners

4:00pm Sunday Afternoon at Westpac Stadium

The Mariners played great last week and are really beginning to make a statement in the a-league. While the Wellington Phoenix sit comfortably in 9^th place I really wouldn’t be surprised if the Mariners win by 3+ goals.

Tip: Central Coast Mariners – Odds of $2.60

North Queensland Fury V Adelaide United

5:00pm Sunday Afternoon at Dairy Farmers Stadium

Adelaide United has now moved up to 7^th on the A-league ladder although they really can’t be praised for this. North Queensland on the other hand has held bottom spot for the entire season so far with only one win. This will more than likely be the toughest game this weekend with both teams desperately in need of a big, morale boosting win.

Tip: Draw – Odds of $2.94

It is now time for Round 7 of the Hyundai A-League and after last week Gold Coast United is a game clear on the top of the ladder. The games played last weekend turned out to be rather interesting with some surprising results.

North Queensland Fury was able to take their first win of the 2009/10 A-League season with an excellent 0-1 victory over Sydney FC. This was an upset for Sydney FC to say the least. Adelaide United also took 3 points with a 1-0 victory over the Mariners and Brisbane had an excellent game winning 3-0 against the Jets.

Melbourne had a 1-1 draw with the Phoenix while Perth Glory tied 2-2 with the league leaders, Gold Coast United.

Adelaide United V Melbourne Victory

7:30pm Friday Night at Hindmarsh Stadium

Adelaide gets a second home game in a row here and their win last week jumped them up to 5^th on the A-League table. Melbourne had a tie last week and I would expect much more out of them in Round 7. In my opinion, Adelaide United’s season is only just getting started and they should easily take the win.

Tip: Adelaide United – Odds of $2.26

Central Coast Mariners V Gold Coast United

7:30pm Saturday at Bluetongue Stadium

Gold Coast United is now 3 points clear at the top of the A-League and I cannot see the others catching them any time soon. Their presence on the pitch gobsmacking and their star striker Shane Smeltz has now scored 9 goals for the season. If the Mariners can leave the pitch with some dignity intact I would be surprised.

Tip: Gold Coast United – Odds of $1.54

Wellington Phoenix V North Queensland Fury

3:30pm Sunday Afternoon at Westpac Stadium

Neither team in this round 7 match-up has been performing all that well. However, after the Fury’s win over Sydney last week it is my belief that their confidence will be through the roof. Although this match is hard to pick, I am putting my money on North Queensland.

Tip: North Queensland – Odds of $2.10

Sydney FC V Newcastle Jets

3:00pm Sunday Afternoon at Sydney Football Stadium

Newcastle played horribly last week to lose 0-3. On the other hand, Sydney will be looking to make up for their surprise loss to the North Queensland Fury and will come out with only a win in mind. Newcastle has only won 2 of their 6 games this year.

Tip: Sydney FC – Odds of $1.39

Perth Glory V Brisbane Roar

5:00pm Sunday Afternoon at Suncorp Stadium

Both of these teams are in reasonable form. Brisbane is my pick here after their very tidy 3-0 win last weekend. There is a chance that the Perth Glory can take a top 2 position this week and I believe they will be fighting hard to achieve the victory.

Tip: Brisbane – Odds of $1.44

Round 6 of the Hyundai A-League is now upon us and what a start to the season we have had. The two new teams in the A-league currently hold top and bottom positions on the ladder.

Last weekend saw Gold Coast United reclaim top spot after defeating Sydney FC, 2-1. The Central Coast Mariners also had a victory last week with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory. The remaining three matches of the round saw 1-1 draws.

Adelaide United V Central Coast Mariners

7:30pm Friday Night at Hindmarsh Stadium

A victory here for Adelaide United will see them level on points with the Central Coast Mariners so believe they’ll be fighting hard for victory. However, the Mariners will not give up easy and I doubt we’ll see much of a result. The best bet here would be on the final score of 1-1 as it is paying out well.

Tip: Draw – Final Score 1-1 – Odds of $8

Newcastle Jets V Brisbane Roar

5:30pm Saturday at Energy Australia Stadium

If the Brisbane Roar can claim a victory here in round 6, they will surpass the Newcastle Jets on the ladder. I really cannot see this happening though and believe that Newcastle will easily take the win. It is my belief that a draw is far more likely than a Brisbane win.

Tip: Newcastle Jets – Odds of $1.85

Sydney FC V North Queensland Fury

7:30pm Saturday Night Sydney at Football Stadium

This should be an easy match for Sydney FC even after they lost last week. The North Queensland Fury has had an appalling season so far and I can see them getting thrashed in this match. I would definitely recommend betting on Sydney FC for this match up.

Tip: Sydney FC – Odds of $1.35

Melbourne Victory V Wellington Phoenix

3:00pm Sunday Afternoon at Etihad Stadium

I believe this will be one of the closest matches of around six. These two teams are well matched on paper and perfectly match on the ladder. I believe a draw in this matchup is a high possibility, but my money is on Melbourne to take the win.

Tip: Melbourne Victory – Odds of $1.33

Perth Glory V Gold Coast United

3:00pm Sunday Afternoon at ME Bank Stadium

How could you possibly go against Gold Coast United with their current form? Perth Glory is not a bad team, but I cannot see them defeating such a challenging opponent. After last week’s victory over Sydney FC morale is very high for the Gold Coast team. This will be another victory for Gold Coast United and they will maintain their number one position in the A-League.

Tip: Gold Coast United – Odds of $1.53