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AFL Betting Guide: Understanding All Bet Types

Welcome to the ultimate guide to understanding AFL (Australian Football League) betting! Whether you're new to wagering on Aussie Rules or looking to deepen your knowledge, this guide will walk you through the most common types of AFL bets, how odds work, and what you need to know to place informed wagers.

AFL betting offers a wide variety of options beyond simply picking a winner. Familiarizing yourself with different bet types will open up more opportunities and allow you to develop a more strategic approach to betting on Australia's own game.

Understanding AFL Odds

AFL odds represent the probability of an outcome occurring and determine your potential payout. They are most commonly displayed in American odds format (+ or -) by international sportsbooks, or decimal odds locally.

  • Negative Odds (-): Indicate the favorite. The number shows how much you need to wager to win $100 profit. E.g., -200 means you bet $200 to win $100.
  • Positive Odds (+): Indicate the underdog. The number shows how much profit you win if you wager $100. E.g., +150 means you bet $100 to win $150 profit.
  • Decimal Odds: Common in Australia, these represent the total return for a $1 stake (stake + profit). E.g., odds of $1.90 mean a $10 bet returns $19 ($9 profit).

Understanding odds is fundamental to calculating potential returns and identifying value in the betting market.

Common AFL Bet Types

Head-to-Head

This is the simplest AFL bet. You are betting on which team will win the match. If there's a draw, specific sportsbook rules apply (often a "push" where your stake is returned, or sometimes a loss unless a draw option was offered).

Example:
Collingwood $1.80
Richmond $2.10
A $10 bet on Collingwood returns $18 if they win. A $10 bet on Richmond returns $21 if they win.

Line (Handicap) Betting

Line betting involves giving one team a points handicap to create a more even contest. The favorite will have a negative line (e.g., -10.5 points), and the underdog a positive line (e.g., +10.5 points).

Example:
Geelong Cats -10.5
Sydney Swans +10.5
If you bet on Geelong, they must win by 11 or more points. If you bet on Sydney, they can lose by 10 points or less, or win the game, for your bet to succeed.

Total Points (Over/Under)

Here you bet on the combined total points scored by both teams in a match. The sportsbook sets a points total, and you wager whether the actual total will be over or under that number.

Example:
Total Points: 165.5
If the final score is 90-80 (total 170), the Over wins. If the final score is 75-70 (total 145), the Under wins.

Player Props

Player Proposition Bets (Props) are wagers on individual player statistics or achievements. These are not usually dependent on the final game outcome. Common AFL player props include:

  • Total Disposals (Kicks + Handballs) for a player (e.g., Clayton Oliver Over/Under 30.5 Disposals)
  • Total Goals Kicked by a player (e.g., Tom Lynch Over/Under 2.5 Goals)
  • First Goal Scorer in the match
  • Most Disposals in a match or group
Example:
Christian Petracca Over/Under 28.5 Disposals
Jeremy Cameron To Kick 3+ Goals
Dustin Martin First Goal Scorer

Learn more about this popular betting market on our AFL Player Props page.

Margin Betting

Margin betting allows you to wager on the winning team and the range of points they will win by. Sportsbooks offer various margin bands.

Example:
Melbourne to win by 1-39 points
Brisbane Lions to win by 40+ points
Tri-Bet: Either team by 15.5 or less, or either team by 16.5 or more.

Futures

AFL Futures bets are wagers on events that will happen later in the season or year. Common futures include:

  • Premiership Winner (who will win the Grand Final)
  • Brownlow Medallist (league best and fairest)
  • Coleman Medallist (leading goal kicker)
  • Team to Make the Top 4 / Top 8
  • Wooden Spoon (team to finish last)
Example:
Sydney Swans to Win Premiership
Nick Daicos to Win Brownlow Medal
Carlton to Make Top 8

Live Betting (In-Play)

Live betting allows you to place wagers on AFL matches while they are in progress. Odds update dynamically based on the score, time remaining, and other in-game events.

Elevate Your AFL Betting Knowledge

Understanding the different AFL bet types is the first step to becoming a more informed and potentially successful punter. By knowing how Head-to-Head, Line, Totals, Props, Margins, and Futures work, you can identify value and apply strategies that go beyond simply picking a team to win.

At Bet Better, we provide data-driven insights and expert AFL picks to help you make smarter decisions across all these bet types. Our AI models and experienced analysts break down matchups to find you the best opportunities daily.

Ready to put your knowledge into practice? Check out today's AFL Best Bets or dive deeper into specific areas like AFL Player Props. Remember to always bet responsibly.

More Resources from Bet Better:

AFL Betting Guide FAQs

What is Head-to-Head betting in the AFL?

Head-to-Head betting in the AFL is the simplest way to bet, where you pick which team you think will win the match outright. If your chosen team wins, your bet wins. Draws are typically paid out according to sportsbook rules (e.g., push or loss).

How does Line (Handicap) betting work in the AFL?

Line betting, or handicap betting, involves the sportsbook giving one team a points start (handicap) to create a more even betting contest. The favourite must win by more than the line for bets on them to succeed, while the underdog can lose by less than the line (or win) for bets on them to pay out.

What are AFL Totals (Over/Under) bets?

AFL Totals, or Over/Under bets, involve wagering on the combined total points scored by both teams in a match. The sportsbook sets a total, and you bet on whether the actual combined score will be over or under that number.

What are AFL Player Prop Bets?

AFL Player Proposition Bets (Props) are wagers on specific player performances or statistics within a game, such as total disposals for a player, number of goals kicked, most disposals in a group, or first goal scorer.

What are AFL Futures bets?

AFL Futures bets are wagers on outcomes that will be decided further in the future, not just a single game. Examples include betting on the Premiership winner, Brownlow Medallist, Coleman Medallist, or a team to make the Top 8.

How To Bet Guides

Learn the fundamentals and strategies for betting on your favorite sports:

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