Besart Berisha ($3.75) is tipped to score more goals than Shane Smeltz ($4) when they clash on Sunday in the A-League Grand Final.

Berisha, the winner of the golden boot award, has scored 19 goals this season. Given his outstanding record this year and the being Roar warm favourites, he is the logical favourite. The Albanian striker is the most likely player on the park to score a goal at $2.50.

Betting on the Grand Final has been one way traffic for the reigning premiers, but they are unchanged at $1.72 since betting opened on Monday.

TAB Sportsbet will open a market at halftime involving Shane Smeltz. Live betting will be available on the game.

RESULT Betting
$1.72 BRISBANE
$3.55 DRAW
$4.50 PERTH

WINNER betting
$1.30 BRISBANE
$3.25 PERTH

GOLDEN BOOT CLASH
$3.75 BESART BERISHA
$1.75 TIE
$4.00 SHANE SMELTZ
(Most Goals)

A League Grand Final Big Bets

BETS ON RESULT
$6,000 @ $1.72 Brisbane
$3,000 @ $1.72 Brisbane

OTHER BETS
$10,000 @ $1.28 Brisbane/Draw (Normal Time)

BETS ON BRISBANE:
$20,000 at $5.00 (Oct 10)
$15,000 at $2.40 (Mar 28)
$8,000 at $2.25 (Mar 31)
$10,000 at $1.65 (Apr 8)

BETS ON PERTH:
$500 at $13 (Aug 26)
$800 at $13 (Oct 4)
$500 at $8.50 (Apr 15)

One TAB Sportsbet customer has been waiting six months to watch Brisbane Roar win the A-League Grand Final.

In October last year they placed $20,000 at $5 on the Roar to win back-to-back titles. They will pocket $100,000 if they are successful.

That is the result most are expecting with the Roar overwhelming favourites at $1.30. They are $1.72 to win the game in normal time.

Perth has struggled in recent times against the Roar; they have not won in their past six meetings. In those six games, they only managed to share the points on two occasions.

The Glory were not expected to be playing in the Grand Final, during the season they reached $26 to be crowned champions.

Shortly after opening markets on Sunday’s Grand Final we took $10,000 at $1.28 on Brisbane or a draw at the end of normal time.

A League Grand Final Betting

$1.72 Brisbane
$3.55 Draw
$4.50 Perth

A-LEAGUE WINNER

$1.30 Brisbane
$3.25 Perth

BETS ON BRISBANE:
$20,000 at $5.00 (Oct 10)
$15,000 at $2.40 (Mar 28)
$8,000 at $2.25 (Mar 31)
$10,000 at $1.65 (Apr 8)

BETS ON PERTH:
$500 at $13 (Aug 26)
$800 at $13 (Oct 4)
$500 at $8.50 (Apr 15)

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.com.au’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 Betting – Saturday, 4 February

$2.50 Melbourne Heart
$3.35 Draw
$2.75 Melbourne Victory

Central Coast v Brisbane Roar Betting – Saturday, 4 February

$2.10 Central Coast
$3.35 Draw
$3.40 Brisbane Roar

Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets Betting – Sunday, 5 February

$1.91 Sydney FC
$3.40 Draw
$4.00 Newcastle Jets

Perth Glory v Gold Coast United Betting – Monday, 6 February

$1.80 Perth Glory
$3.40 Draw
$4.25 Gold Coast United

A-League Grand Final Winner Betting

(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)

Sydney FC are overwhelming favourites to heap more pain on Adelaide tomorrow night despite the return of John Kosmina as Reds coach, with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au installing the Sky Blues as $1.62 favourites and the United as $5.40 outsiders.

A 1-0 Sydney FC win is the favoured correct score result at $6.00, followed by a 1-1 draw ($6.50), a 2-0 Sydney FC win ($7.00) and a 2-1 Sydney FC win ($8.00), while a trio of Sky Blues’ strikers – Bruno Cazarine, Juho Makela and Mark Bridge – will start the clash as $5.50 first goal scorer favourites.

“The script writer couldn’t have got it any better with Kosmina’s return being at the SFS, but at the end of the day it comes down to what happens on the pitch and Sydney FC are performing far better than United at the minute and clearly deserve favouritism,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

After starting the week as new A-League Championship favourites, the Central Coast Mariners have drifted from $3.30 out to $3.50 with the Brisbane Roar returning to the top of the pecking order, in from $3.40 to $3.20. Sydney FC remain on the third line of betting at $6.00.

Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
Sydney FC v Adelaide United Betting

$1.62 Sydney FC
$3.60 Draw
$5.40 Adelaide United

First goal scorer Betting

$5.50 Bruno Cazarine, Juho Makela, Mark Bridge
$6.00 Dimi Petratos
$8.50 Brett Emerton, Terry Antonis
Others quoted

Correct score Betting

$6.00 1-0 Sydney FC
$6.50 1-1 Draw
$7.00 2-0 Sydney FC
$8.00 2-1 Sydney FC
$13 1-0 Adelaide
Others quoted

A-League Grand Final Winner Betting

(prices from Monday, 19 December in brackets)
$3.20 Brisbane Roar (in from $3.40)
$3.50 Central Coast Mariners (out from $3.30)
$6.00 Sydney FC (steady)
$7.00 Melbourne Victory (steady)
$8.50 Melbourne Heart (in from $10)
$23 Perth Glory (out from $18)
$23 Newcastle Jets (out from $18)
$26 Wellington Phoenix (out from $18)
$34 Adelaide United (out from $23)
$36 Gold Coast United (in from $46)

Brisbane Roar’s latest streak of back-to-back losses will end when they take on Wellington on Wednesday night says online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au, installing the last year’s champions as $2.05 favourites and the Phoenix as $3.40 outsiders.

“Brisbane are in the unfamiliar spot of coming off consecutive losses so it will be interesting to see how they respond,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

“Punters are thinking it will be an even affair with most of the early money being for the Draw.”

In A-League Grand Final betting, the Central Coast Mariners continue to firm after moving into equal first on the table, from $5.50 into $4.50, while the Roar have drifted from $2.25 out to $2.60.

“Graham Arnold is a bit upset about his team not getting enough plaudits in the media but punters are clearly well aware of them with a steady stream of money coming in for the Mariners in recent weeks,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

“Sydney FC also continue to shorten and are now into $6.00 while the biggest mover has been the Melbourne Heart who, after being a $23 chance only a fortnight ago, are now at $11.”

Wellington v Brisbane Odds @ sportsbet.com.au

$2.05 Brisbane
$3.25 Draw
$3.40 Wellington

First goal scorer Odds @ sportsbet.com.au

$6.00 Besart Berisha
$7.00 Paul Ifill, Chris Greenacre, Henrique, James Meyer
$7.50 Issey Nakajima-Ferran
$8.00 Thomas Broich, No goalscorer
Others quoted

Correct score Odds @ sportsbet.com.au

$6.50 1-0 Brisbane, 1-1 Draw
$8.50 2-1 Brisbane, 0-0 Draw
$9.00 2-0 Brisbane, 1-0 Wellington
$12 2-2 Draw
Others quoted

A-League Grand Final Winner Odds @ sportsbet.com.au

$2.60 Brisbane Roar (out from $2.25)
$4.50 Central Coast Mariners (in from $5.50)
$6.00 Sydney FC (in from $6.50)
$8.50 Melbourne Victory (steady)
$11 Melbourne Heart (in from $19)
$15 Perth Glory (out from $13)
$19 Newcastle Jets (out from $17)
$21 Adelaide United (steady)
$34 Wellington Phoenix (in from $36)
$46 Gold Coast United (in from $56)

Fresh from ending Brisbane Roar’s record unbeaten streak, Sydney FC are tipped to make light work of Perth at Campbelltown Oval on Wednesday night with leading online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au installing the Sky Blues as $1.73 favourites with the Glory distinct outsiders at $4.75.

“Sydney were outstanding from start to finish against Brisbane and if they can replicate even half of that performance against Perth they will be far too strong,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

Sydney FC have also been the biggest movers in A-League Grand Final winner betting, firming sharply from $8.50 into $6.50 to take out the title with their locals rivals the Central Coast Mariners also shortening from $6.00 into $5.50 following their recent strong form.

“After their recent hiccup, Brisbane have eased out from $2.00 to $2.25 but are still the clear favourites to win the big one,” Hawes said.

“Sydney FC have attracted a lot of interest since their win over the Roar, while a steady stream of money continues for the Mariners to go one better this time around.

“Although the Victory are struggling right now, their star power sees them remain as fourth favourite at $8.50.”

You can see all Sportsbet’s betting markets here: Sportsbet Betting

Sydney FC v Perth Glory Betting Markets @ sportsbet.com.au

$1.73 Sydney FC
$3.50 Draw
$4.75 Perth Glory

First Goal Scorer Betting Markets @ sportsbet.com.au

$5.50 Bruno Cazarine, Chris Coyne
$6.00 Dimi Petratos, Juho Makela
$7.50 Shane Smeltz, Nicky Carle
$8.50 Brett Emerton
$9.00 Billy Mehmet
Others quoted

Correct Score Betting Markets @ sportsbet.com.au

$6.00 1-0 Sydney FC
$6.50 1-1 Draw
$7.50 2-1 Sydney FC
$8.00 2-0 Sydney FC
$9.50 0-0 Draw
Others quoted

A-League Grand Final Winner Betting Markets @ sportsbet.com.au

$2.25 Brisbane Roar (out from $2.00)
$5.50 Central Coast Mariners (in from $6.00)
$6.50 Sydney FC (in from $8.50)
$8.50 Melbourne Victory (out from $7.50)
$13 Perth Glory (in from $15)
$17 Newcastle Jets (in from $21)
$19 Melbourne Heart (in from $23)
$21 Adelaide United (out from $14)
$36 Wellington Phoenix (out from $26)
$56 Gold Coast United (out from $41)

Head-To-Head History:

Brisbane – 11
Central Coast – 3
Drawn – 8
Team Overview:

A year ago, the Brisbane Roar soccer club was in a miserable state. Absolutely nothing went right for them in the 2009/10 season, which included an abundance of injuries, plus the sacking of respected coach Frank Farina for drink-driving. At the end of the season, the Roar occupied in ninth spot. Now, 12 months on, Brisbane is playing in its first A-League grand final – and is deservedly hot favourites. The Roar have dominated almost every team they have faced, slamming on a league-high 58 goals for the season. Their 27-match unbeaten run is the best by an Australian soccer for the past 60 odd years.  

Central Coast had a very similar 2009/10 season to its upcoming opponents. The Mariners finished eighth at the completion of the home-and-away season – the worst result in their short history. But under the auspices of ex-Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, the boys from New South Wales have turned their luck around in 2010/11. Arnold has transformed this team from one defensive to attacking mindset in the space of one season. They now find themselves just one win away from an elusive first title.
Brisbane’s Recent Form:

DWWWW
Central Coast’s Recent Form:

WDLWW
Key Players:

Vibrant wingman Kosta Barbarouses has been a revelation for the Roar this year. The 21-year-old has scored 12 goals for his team, including one in the semi-finals against the Mariners a few weeks back. Barbrouses will be extremely keen to score a grand final goal against Central Coast on Sunday and if he does, there is no doubt he, and the rest of Suncorp Stadium, will celebrate wildly.

There will be plenty of pressure on young Mustafa Amini this Sunday. The 17-year-old looks set to start in attack for the Mariners with star import Patricio Perez likely to be sidelined by a hamstring injury. Despite the pressure, there is no reason why Amini can’t make an impact on the game. He has shown throughout the season that he is blessed with skill and if he can replicate his achievements on the biggest stage, his profile will rise dramatically.
Team News:

Brisbane should head into the grand final with the same line-up it started with against the Mariners a few weeks ago.

As mentioned previously, Central Coast is likely to be missing Perez and could also be without star strike Matt Simon. However the Mariners do regain Pedj Bojic, after he received a stoppage time red card against the Roar a fortnight ago.
Who Wins?

Expect a very fiery A-League grand final. These teams have been the best two throughout the entire season and will not hold anything back come game time.

Brisbane has every right to be confident. Led by Matt McKay in the middle and Michael Theoklitos in the defensive goal square, the Roar have an extremely balanced side with little to no weaknesses. They have taken all before them so far this season and there is no reason why that can’t continue their outstanding form this Sunday.

However the one aspect that the Mariners can say they have a distinct advantage in is grand final experience. This match will be their third season decider in six seasons. Yes the boys from Gosford lost the previous two, but there is no doubt they will value the big-game experience when they run out in front of 50,000 or so fans at Suncorp Stadium.

With that little bit of extra confidence, don’t be surprised to see Central Coast hit the scoreboard first and early. But the Roar’s depth and overall class should see them prevail. They have produced some of the best soccer ever seen at a domestic level in Australia this season and thoroughly deserve this year’s premiership.
Best Bet:

Brisbane Roar to win 2-1 ($8.50 – Sportingbet)

The Melbourne Heart will need to bounce back from their last start defeat at the hands of the QLD Roar if they are to have any chance of making the A-league finals this season. They currently sit 2 points behind the Phoenix and have already played one more game than them.

The Central Coast Mariners are sitting pretty in 2nd place on the ladder, with a win in this match all but sealing that spot. In their last 5 matches they have won 3 times and had 2 draws.

The Heart have had a relatively decent campaign in their first season of the competition but I think their finals aspirations will fall short with a draw on Friday the 4th February in round 26 of the A-league.

Heart vs Mariners Betting Odds

Melbrourne Heart: $2.90
Draw: $3.30
Central Coast Mariners: $2.40

The Verdict

There’s a lot on the line here for the Heart and even though they were beat last start by the rampaging Roar, they are in pretty good form of late. That being said, they run into the 2nd top team who have proved they are more than difficult to handle. These two teams have met twice so far this season with each team having a win apiece.

The Heart are at home and will do everything within their power to come away with the three points and keep their finals hopes alive, but the Mariners aren’t simply going to give it to them. The fact of the matter is that the Mariners have been the far superior team all season and I can’t see them losing this match.

Prediction: Draw

The Newcastle Jets go in to tonight’s A League clash against Melbourne Victory in a world of trouble, having lost key defender Taylor Regan though injury and losing Ryan Griffiths to a two match ban.

Griffiths copped a two game suspension after being red carded for dissent in last Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Phoenix in Wellington.

Meanwhile a win in tonight’s crucial game will secure a finals berth for the Melbourne Victory who are sitting in fifth spot on the table.

With two wins in as many games and no losses in their last four, the Victory are traveling well but need to as they have lost both Archie Thompson and Matthew Kemp from their last start 2-0 win over the Glory.

On the flipside, no team has a better record against Melbourne than the Jets, who have lost just four of their 16 games head to head.

Add to that the fact that the Jets have made AAMI Park something of a happy hunting ground, earlier this month beat Melbourne Heart 2-0 there even though they had only 10 men for more than 80 minutes.

Melbourne Victory v Newcastle Jets Betting

Sportingbet Australia have Melbourne Victory at $1.55 head to head, with the draw paying $3.85 and Newcastle an unlikely proposition at $6.00.

The handicap betting has Melbourne $1.55 at +0.5 and Newcastle at $2.40 with the 0.5 start.

In total game score betting Sportingbet have the over/under at 2.5 with the overs paying $1.80 and under quoted at $2.00.

Melbourne Victory v Newcastle Jets Pick

As much as you try to find a way to make the Jets sound a realistic conveyance tonight, it is just throwing money down the toilet. An under strength Jets team will still not be good enough for an under strength Victory.
The Tip : Melbourne Victory 2-0

Interesting round 25 of Australian Soccer’s A League, and more interesting day of matches with Brisbane aiming to claim the Premier’s Plate, and a place in the Asian Champions League, but it requires a win over the Heart and for Adelaide United to lose or draw with Central Coast later on tonight.

Brisbane have been unbeaten over 22 games, equalling the all-time record set by APIA-Leichhardt in the old national league in 1987, but are aiming to break the Heart’s own run of six unbeaten matches.

The Roar are currently nine points clear of second placed Central Coast with the Mariners still with a game up their sleeves.

With the stage set for the importance of today’s games lets have a look at our selections and the betting odds are courtesy of Sportingbet.

Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Heart, Skilled Park, Saturday, 5.30pm (EDT)

Brisbane Roar: $1.45
Draw : $4.00
Melbourne Heart : $7.50
Brisbane team continue to overcome every challenge thrown at them and a win here will confirm the Premier’s Plate. The Heart are clinging to their top six hopes, but its difficult to see their unbeaten run continuing here. The Roar defeated Heart 4-0 at Suncorp back in September and won 2-1 at AAMI Park back in November. Nothing will change here. Our selection – get on the Roar!

Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners, Hindmarsh Stadium, Saturday, 7.30pm (EDT)

Adelaide United : $2.05
Draw : $3.30
Central Coast Mariners : $3.50
The vital second spot on the ladder to play for with both sides in good form. These two teams have met twice this season for a 1-1 draw in round 3 and a 2-0 Mariners victory in December. Given what both teams have to pay for and the good form they are both in at the moment, we favour the draw here. If it was being played anywhere else we’d be on the Mariners, but we have to elevate United with the home ground advantage. Our tip – the draw at $3.50 at Sportingbet.

Perth Glory v Sydney FC, nib Stadium, Saturday, 9.45pm (EDT)

Perth Glory : $3.00
Draw : $3.30
Sydney FC : $2.30
Bottom of the table battle of the cellar dwellers. Sydney have won both meetings this year and go in with the better form having put together a four game winning run. Perth haven’t had a win in their past five games and we can’t have them at all in this. Our pick – Sydney at the insanely generous price of $2.30 at Sportingbet.