Club president’s $100,000 punt

By Paul Pickering
THE Nilma Darnum juggernaut has claimed plenty of victims in the Ellinbank and District Football League this season, but it turns out that an outsider may be set to pay the biggest price for the Bombers’ success.
Spare a thought for the Darwin bookmaker who last December gave Nilma Darnum president Andrew Patterson odds of 34-1 on a Bombers’ premiership in 2009.
That bookie now stands to lose around $100,000 if Nilma Darnum – which became an overnight powerhouse after an aggressive pre-season recruiting campaign – can continue its unbeaten run until 12 September.
Patterson, whose business card could easily read ‘professional punter’, last week confirmed the $3000 wager and said he was quietly confident with his team’s progress.
The Bombers defeated second-placed Warragul Industrials by 32 points on Saturday and now sit on top of the ladder with a percentage of 258.
“I’m very happy at the moment, but they still have to win it on the day,” Patterson said last week.
“It’s one thing getting the right odds, but the bet still has to win for it to be any good.”
What the unfortunate bookmaker didn’t know in December was that Nilma was poised to sign former AFL star Mal Michael and a host of big-name recruits from around the region.
He made the mistake of framing his market on exposed form.
“We finished second bottom last year and we haven’t won a flag for 50 years, so $35 was probably the right price,” Patterson reflected.
Not surprisingly, the Darwin bookie smelled something fishy after Patterson’s layout and promptly suspended all betting.
Patterson, who is a mathematician by trade, said he couldn’t resist the generous odds, but described the wager as an “interest bet”.
“It’s not about making money,” he said.
“Money means nothing when it comes to premierships, so I’d give up the money to win a flag.”
Odds are he might have both. The Bombers are now the raging flag favourites at near enough to even money.