Eddie Betts | 2020 Season Review

Written by Joseph Addamo

Throughout the 2020 off-season, Blue Abroad will be providing content to cover everything you need to know about the Carlton Football Club.

After a largely improved season, we will be reviewing every player that pulled on the famous Navy Blue guernsey in 2020.

This is the Blue Abroad Player Review for Carlton’s #19 – Eddie Betts.

SEASON SYNOPSIS

After a long absence in the Navy Blue #19 guernsey, Carlton’s favourite son returned home to Ikon Park in 2020. Although 33 years of age at the turn of the season, Eddie Betts still showed he’s got some pomp and circumstance left in him yet.

Among forwards across the AFL, Betts was ranked elite for goal assists (0.8 per game, 12 total), as he has been for so many years. He became the first player in VFL/AFL history to kick 600+ goals and have 300+ goal assists in his career in 2020. He was also ranked above average for inside 50s (2.1), goals (13), shots at goal (2.2 per game) and tackles inside 50 (1.2 per game).

Regardless of whether 2021 turns out to be Eddie’s final curtain call, every Carlton fan tuning in to watch him knows that they’ll still be getting their money’s worth in season 17.

BEST PERFORMANCE

Just seeing Eddie back in Blue in Round 2 vs. Melbourne for the first time since 2013 was almost the highlight of the season for Carlton fans. Kicking a goal to kickstart an almost famous comeback win vs. the Demons in his re-debut was something many Blues fans, and Eddie himself would look back on fondly.

Kicking four goals against the Western Bulldogs in Round 6, while deserving of an honourable mention, was also, surprisingly, not Eddie’s best performance for 2020. This was reserved for a trip down the M1 to GMHBA Stadium in a monumental Round 3 win vs. Geelong. Betts finished with 12 disposals, 3 inside 50s, 3 marks inside 50, 2 goals, 3 goal assists, 1 Brownlow vote and 2 tackles for the night. One of those tackles was laid on Jack Henry in the dying embers of the game, with the Blues leading by only 3 points. It forced a holding the ball turnover, as Eddie proved to be the catalyst for the Blues’ first win of the season.

Oh, what a night, Eddie!

OFF-SEASON & 2021 OUTLOOK

It’s now official – Betts has signed a further one-year extension to play on at Carlton in what will be his 17th season. Having a combined 25 goals and direct goal assists from just 15 games in 2020 speaks volumes to the influence Betts had on Carlton’s attacking fortunes.

However, his scoring prowess and influence on games still does not reflect the impact Eddie has had on the young forward crop. Not only a teammate but a mentor to the likes of Zac Fisher, David Cuningham and Michael Gibbons proves Eddie’s worth far beyond his goal tally at season’s end.

‘Fish’ spoke with Dylan Buckley recently on the Dyl & Friends podcast, sharing the impact that Betts has had in 2020 on the group:

Eddie has been massive for both ‘Gibbo’ and I… we wanted to earn his respect as a small forward, so it gave us that extra motivation and belief.

Speaking on his own motivations for 2021 (and maybe even beyond), Betts revealed in a Fox Sports interview prior to signing his contract extension what is driving him to still perform at this stage of his career:

You’ve got to believe in yourself. There’s a lot of critics out there that say you’re too old, you’re past the game but as long as I believe in myself, my teammates believe in me and the coaching staff, I’ll still play until my body says I can’t play no more.

2020 REPORT CARD RATING

B-

STATUS HEADING INTO 2021

Consistent Senior Player