When it comes to the Coleman Medal, it is hard to go past a player that is coming off an incredible 80-goal season. So it is not surprising to see West Coast Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy start as ($4.20) favourite. Despite Kennedy’s unorthodox set shot routine, there is no denying it has held him in good stead over the previous couple of seasons. Expect another swag of goals from him this season as his Eagles side looks to rebound from last season’s disappointing grand final loss to Hawthorn. Kennedy benefited from Jack Darling’s absence until Round 11 last season, so perhaps his return could result in a more even share in the goals.
Lance Franklin ($5) has reportedly been flying this pre-season with the Sydney Swans. Buddy faced a much publicised battle with mental health towards the tail end of 2015 and it ultimately resulted in his absence during the finals. But the Swans’ marquee player says he is feeling better than ever and this could mean a return to his devastating on-field dominance. The Swans toyed with the idea of playing the centurion goal-kicker through the midfield but one would think he will spend most of his time inside the forward fifty arc.
There is a lot of love for Tom Hawkins ($12) with the man mountain expected to benefit from a solid pre-season and a resurgence of Geelong. The Cats were very active with their recruitment during the off-season period and the prospect of Paddy Dangerfield delivering the ball lace out to a fit and firing Hawkins has Cats supports salivating.
Another player that impressed in patches during the pre-season is the high flying Tiger Jack Reiwoldt ($12). There has been a lot of positivity coming out of the Richmond camp with reports of improved leadership from the full-forward. Reiwoldt was sensational against a depleted Hawthorn side a couple of weeks ago in the NAB Challenge and will no doubt be looking at taking that form into the regular season. He has been very consistent in front of the big sticks over the past half a dozen years and has not kicked less than 50 goals in a season since he was a young pup in 2009.
If you are looking for an outsider, do not rule out the electrifying Adelaide Crows small forward Eddie Betts ($21). The former Carlton player has developed a cult following over in South Australia and for good reason. He kicked a personal best 63 goals for the season in 2015 to finish second overall. If his form in this seasons’ NAB Challenge is anything to go by, he is getting better with age and could be worth a sneaky punt.
2016 Coleman Medal Market (as of 10:30am 22 March)
Kennedy, Josh (WCE) 4.20
Franklin, Lance (Syd) 5.00
Walker, Taylor (Adel) 11.00
Hawkins, Tom (Gee) 12.00
Riewoldt, Jack (RIC) 12.00
Gunston, Jack (Haw) 13.00
Stringer, Jake (WB) 13.00
Tippett, Kurt (Syd) 16.00
Cameron, Jeremy (GWS) 17.00
Cloke, Travis (Col) 17.00
Click here for the latest Coleman Medal market
