Sucker Bets

[Hanno]

Came across a story on the back page of the Age sport section (in the Sporting Life bit) about a Scumwood punter who has laid down several grand final quinellas, all with the Pies to play one other team. According to the story, he has had $3000 at $60 for a Pies v St Kilda final, $1000 at $100 for Pies v Sydney, $1000 at $110 for Pies v Crows, $1000 at $140 for Pies v Cats, $500 at $210 for Pies v Lions, and $500 at $250 on Pies v Dees.

And I thought we had some terminally hopeful supporters... :cutelaugh

All up, this guys has laid down $7000. That's an awful lot of stolen electrical goods. Lock up your houses everyone, this bloke has to make good his losses somehow.

Anyway, this got me to thinking about bad bets we may have made when our hearts overruled our heads. I remember I once bet a friend $50 that, this time, Richmond would find a way to keep Gary Ablett to less than 5 goals. After another 12 or so goals from Ablett, not only was I handing over the cash, but I had learned a valuable lesson about sports betting (namely, engage brain before blinding standing up for your club).

 

[pahoffm]

Yep, in 1977, at school, I was so cocky that the Tiges could do no wrong that I bet a Carlton supporter $20 that we'd win the premiership, and I gave him 2-1.

For a schoolkid in the 70s, $40 took quite a while to pay.

 

[Legends of 2017]

I've made too many bets, where a sane person shouldn't, to remember. One however stands out, only because the Tiges won and I lost by backing them. It was the early 90's and I went down to the TAB before the game. We were playing Fitzroy that day, and they were one of the few teams around then that could actually be classed as being worse than us. I was going to back us at all margins just to be on the safe side Anyway, it was p!ssing down with rain that morning so I changed my mind and backed all margins except 73 points plus. Imagine my joy when I got to the 'G and the clouds parted and the sun shone majestically on the ground. It dried up quickly and stayed that way the whole game. The Tigers, needless to say roared away to a huge lead and my bet was still safe most of the game. A late goal took them to over 73 points. We won, but I lost. Was confused about my feelings that day. Was worse when I saw the payout. Cost me a few grand ;D

 

[Phar Ace]

The Tigers, needless to say roared away to a huge lead and my bet was still safe most of the game. A late goal took them to over 73 points. We won, but I lost. Was confused about my feelings that day. Was worse when I saw the payout. Cost me a few grand ;D

Think that's called serendipity.......

I recall, (think it was the 1978 Melbourne Cup) that I agreed to play bookie when I was away with whole lotta mates down at Torquay. Well the sky fell that day and all everyone wanted to lay was VanderHum - I couldn't get him in short enough - and I paid out long and ended up having to borrow just to get outta Torquay alive that year. I was only 18 and it was a valuable lesson Cheap really in hindsight when I see the gambling problems some of those mates still have ...........

 

[pahoffm]

The Tigers, needless to say roared away to a huge lead and my bet was still safe most of the game. A late goal took them to over 73 points. We won, but I lost. Was confused about my feelings that day. Was worse when I saw the payout. Cost me a few grand ;D

Think that's called serendipity.......

I recall, (think it was the 1978 Melbourne Cup) that I agreed to play bookie when I was away with whole lotta mates down at Torquay.  Well the sky fell that day and all everyone wanted to lay was VanderHum - I couldn't get him in short enough - and I paid out long and ended up having to borrow just to get outta Torquay alive that year.  I was only 18 and it was a valuable lesson   Cheap really in hindsight when I see the gambling problems some of those mates still have ...........

A yes, I remember VanderHum. It was 1976, not 78. (Or else you're 2 years older than you claim to be. )

3 of us in Form 5 at school run an book for the cup. Fortunately, one of us had an uncle who was a bookie. He taught us how to alter our prices in respect of bets on particular horses. About lunchtime that day we made Vanderhum unbackable. Because we altered our odds we didn't lose any money, but we didn't make very much either.

 

[Phar Ace]

The Tigers, needless to say roared away to a huge lead and my bet was still safe most of the game. A late goal took them to over 73 points. We won, but I lost. Was confused about my feelings that day. Was worse when I saw the payout. Cost me a few grand ;D

Think that's called serendipity.......

I recall, (think it was the 1978 Melbourne Cup) that I agreed to play bookie when I was away with whole lotta mates down at Torquay.  Well the sky fell that day and all everyone wanted to lay was VanderHum - I couldn't get him in short enough - and I paid out long and ended up having to borrow just to get outta Torquay alive that year.  I was only 18 and it was a valuable lesson   Cheap really in hindsight when I see the gambling problems some of those mates still have ...........

A yes, I remember VanderHum. It was 1976, not 78. (Or else you're 2 years older than you claim to be.  )

3 of us in Form 5 at school run an book for the cup. Fortunately, one of us had an uncle who was a bookie. He taught us how to alter our prices in respect of bets on particular horses. About lunchtime that day we made Vanderhum unbackable. Because we altered our odds we didn't lose any money, but we didn't make very much either.

Just trying to convince ppl i wasn't "under-age". Thxs for blowing the cover ther Phanto ;D Was I really 16 then - how time flies :'(