Carlton’s Little Magician | Farewell Eddie
Written by Ari Stamatakos
Born 26th of November 1986, Eddie Betts was a shy kid from Kalgoorlie, South Australia. Eddie played his junior footy at Mines Rovers Football Club, before moving to Port Lincoln and playing for Mallee Park Peckers. At 15 years old, he moved to Melbourne, playing for Templestowe and TAC Cup football for Calder Cannons. At only 16 years old, he represented Vic Metro at the AFL Under 18 Championships and was selected in the All-Australian squad. After another year at the Cannons, a year hampered by an osteitis pubis injury, Eddie was overlooked in the National Draft, before being selected Pick 3 in the 2004 Pre-Season Draft. After making a splash in Pre-Season, he made his debut in the opening match of the 2005 season, kicking an unbelievable goal halfway through the third term, and from that point forward, we all knew that this kid was going to be special.
He saw the majority of the year out, kicking 19 goals from 19 games, but his second season was where we really saw how good Eddie would be. Playing as a stay at home small forward, he slowly built a rapport with the fans that has stuck ever since. This intensified when he kicked his first of 4 goals of the years, with a check-side kick from the boundary against the Pies, dubbed ‘The Impossible Goal’ from BT on commentary.
As the Blues slowly got better, so did Eddie. His goal output started to increase as he became one of the league’s most dangerous small forwards. In 2009 he kicked 38 goals, before rising to 42 the next year, too then a career-high 50 the year after that - and it was in 2011 where he has had arguably his best performance of his career. Under the lights at a packed MCG, Eddie Betts kicked 8 goals against the Bombers. The pick of the bunch being, one where he was tucked up on the goal line, showed off some trademark dancing feet, got past a couple, before bending it through the tightest of angles as the MCG crowd went absolutely berserk.
The highlights kept coming the following year, as in Round Three against the Lions, Eddie rose high into the Brisbane night sky, not once, but twice, to bring down two unbelievable marks, the second, arguably, somehow better than the first. In 2013 he had his first real injury hampered year, but the highlights were still there in abundance. Including a trademark Eddie goal to kickstart the comeback against Port Adelaide in Round 23, before playing an integral role in the comeback the following week as well.
That was the last we saw of Eddie in the Navy Blue for 6 seasons, as at the end of the 2013 season he returned home to South Australia, penning a 4-year contract with the Crows. In that time, he gathered 3 more goals of the year’s, 3 All-Australians, Club Leading Goal Kicker 4 times and his very own pocket at the Adelaide Oval, not too bad if you ask me.
Until, in 2020, the prodigal son returned. Eddie Betts returned to the club where he made a name for himself. Whilst he wasn’t as consistently magical as he once was, because of that, all of his moments became magic. From the game-saving tackle against the Cats to the bag of 5 against the Dogs, he struck fear into every AFL defence, even in his later years. The sounds of “Eddie Eddie Eddie” ring loud every time he had the ball as the Blues fans eagerly waited in anticipation as to what would happen next. He will line up for his 350th and final game of his career on Saturday Night. And those underman Bagger’s better send this legend off with the send-off he deserves.
Notable Stats for Eddie at the Carlton Football Club
11th for Goals – 328*
2nd for Goal Assist – 188*
5th for Marks Inside 50 – 216*
9th for Tackles – 643*
Despite all the on-field career highlights, what Eddie might be remembered most for, is his impact off the field. Tackling Racism, especially in his formative years, means more to Eddie than alot of other things in the world. He has spoken publicly countless times about the effect that racism and prejudice has on not only himself but on the whole Indigenous Australian community. He, along with Tony Armstrong and many others, have made recent public pleas on TV for this to finally end. He has released a book titled ‘My People, which aims to raise awareness for, and is about, sharing and educating kids on Aboriginal culture and Australia's First Nations people. He has also raised alot of awareness for the “Free The Flag” campaign, which is all about attempting to get back the rights to the Aboriginal Flag, which have been held by WAM Clothing since 2018. Post Footy, Eddie Betts will fight tooth and nail for the Indigenous Australian community, and the whole footy world is behind him.
From the ‘Doozy’s’ to the baggy shorts. From ridiculous marks to incredible goals. Your game brought a smile to so many people’s faces, and your infectious personality brought smiles to many more. An unbelievable footballer, but more importantly, an even better person. You’re an inspiration to young and old, you’re a legend of the game. Thank you for the memories, you little magician, Farwell Eddie Betts.
