How a punting genius turned to sheer lunacy and a possible $225,235 became $498.70

IF you’re a punter you maybe get one chance to turn a few dollars into something big. This is the story of one such person, but there’s no happy ending.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — SEPTEMBER 08: Jack Riewoldt of the Tigers celebrates during the AFL Second Qualifying Final Match between the Geelong Cats and the Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 8, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

IF you are a punter, and no matter what your gambling choice may be, you maybe get one lifetime chance to turn a few dollars into something really big.

Let me tell you about such a person who this year combined punting genius with sheer lunacy in a decision that is bizarre in its consequence.

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The said punter placed a $73 multi with the TAB on March 25 for Richmond ($51, now $3.50) to win the flag, Melbourne Storm ($5.50, now $1.70) to take out the NRL title and Dustin Martin to land the Brownlow Medal ($7, now $1.10) for a collect of $143,335.

Two weeks late he returned to the Western Suburbs TAB in Melbourne, placing $100 on the same multi for a slightly reduced collect of $81,900 (Richmond had shortened to $26, Storm $4.50, Martin $7).

Cameron Smith of the Storm celebrates with Tim Glasby

So for a $173 outlay he had the Tigers, Storm and Dusty running for a total of $225,235.

After Round 14, the Tiges were sixth on the AFL ladder and $21 for the flag, Storm was on top and $3.25, while Dusty was $3.50 for the medal.

And then came a moment of madness that hopefully doesn’t haunt our punter for life.

With the Tigers just 15 points down at halftime in their Round 15 clash against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, he did the unthinkable by cashing out of both bets, the $143,335 potential result for just $317.35 and the $81,900 for $181.35.

To give you an example of what could have been, had he chosen to do the same today the two cash out figures would be currently $15,600 and $8900.

Dustin Martin is runaway favourite for the Brownlow

Meaning he could have cancelled his bet and still made a profit of $24,327.

It actually hurts writing this. Couldn’t he have even just cashed out of one and in the best traditions of actor Richard Dreyfuss, let the other one ride?

In fairness, I don’t know his financial state at the time, meaning his payout figure of $498.70 might just have helped keep a contemporary posse at bay.