Next GWS Giants Coach Odds and Best Bet
Last updated: May 26, 2022, 3:57AM | Published: May 12, 2022, 6:34AM
With senior coach Leon Cameron and the GWS Giants parting ways this week, it's time to look at the betting market for who will be the next GWS coach.
Cameron had been at the helm of GWS since taking over from Kevin Sheedy in 2014, making the finals five times, including a grand final loss to Richmond in 2019.
But now, with the Cameron era over (I hope they've been filming a new season of Making Their Mark through this), we're going to try and make some coin on who's taking over at the Giants.
Who will be the next GWS coach?
As they usually do, Sportsbet have launched a market for punters to bet on who they think the next GWS Giants coach will be.
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Best Bet: Alistair Clarkson ($4)
When I started writing this article as the odds came out, Clarko was at $13, and no, I didn't get on. But the market move supports why he's our best bet to be appointed the next GWS coach.
The man is going to coach soon enough, so why can't it be with this Giants team? Rumours have circulated for ages that he will likely kick-start any Tassie team that may come, but there's no doubting Clarko would rather coach a team with more of a base to work with.
Imagine if he finally gets the best out of the likes of Whitfield and Taranto? The Giants would be back on the big stage in no time.
Plus, you can't help but feel the AFL desperately wants either the Suns or Giants (or both) to win a flag soon to warrant expanding once again. Clarkson to coach the Giants could be a very smart bet!
Value Bet: James Hird ($10)
The Bombers legend is currently at GWS in a leadership advisory role, and with CEO Dave Matthews already stating it's "possible" Hird takes up a more hands-on role for the rest of the season, a return to coaching could definitely be on the horizon.
It's no secret to anyone that James Hird would love to get back into senior coaching at some point, and there's a couple of reasons why GWS could very well be the perfect destination.
Firstly, they're in Sydney. Hird would be away from the Melbourne spotlight, meaning he would be much more comfortable settling into the role.
On top of that, Sheedy – the four-time premiership coach at Essendon, and inaugural Giants coach – will likely have some influence on who's picked, and he will obviously have good things to say about his former skipper at the Bombers.
Watch for Hirdy's odds to come in over the next few weeks.
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Roughie: Brad Scott ($41)
With a nice job at AFL House, this may seem unlikely, but that's why it's a roughie!
Brad Scott was one of the betting favourites to get the Carlton gig last year before taking on his new role at the AFL.
This may seem like a move that has him out of coaching for a while, but in a similar way to Clarko, Scott is sure to have his interest piqued by a team that made the big dance as recently as 2019.
The former North Melbourne coach is currently third on the list for most games coached without a grand final appearance, which surely keeps him up at night!
Scott is the most likely of the guys posted at odds of $34 or longer (a list that includes Shane Mumford and Sheedy himself!), so he is the best long shot you can get on at this point.
Odds to be the Next GWS Coach
- $3.50: Mark McVeigh
- $4: Alistair Clarkson
- $8: Adam Kingsley
- $10: Adam Yze, James Hird
- $12: Blake Caracella
- $13: Jaymie Graham, Lenny Hayes
- $15: Robert Harvey, Ross Lyon, Scott Burns
- $18: Amon Buchanon, Brendon Lade, David Teague
- $21: Craig Lambert, Justin Leppitsch, Steve Johnson
- $26: Mark Williams
- $34: Chad Cornes, Damian Truslove, Shane Mumford
- $41: Brad Scott, Cameron Bernasconi, Craig Jennings, Kevin Sheedy
Odds via Sportsbet are correct at time of publishing and subject to change.
