Eddie Betts
Encyclopedia
Eddie Betts is an Australian rules football
er playing for Carlton in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
and played for the Mines Rovers Football Club
. Moving to Melbourne as a teenager, he played in the 2003 Under 18 National Championships for Vic Metro as a 16 year old and was selected in the Under 18 All-Australian team. Whilst he was too young to be selected in the AFL Draft
in 2003, he was overlooked in the 2004 AFL Draft
.
from the Calder Cannons
by the Carlton Football Club.
In his first season he made attracted attention as a lively small forward during the 2005 Pre-Season. He made his AFL debut for the Carlton Football Club
in Round 1, 2005 against North Melbourne
. His early performances saw him become a regular member of the senior team, filling the niche of goal-sneak and chaser for the club, while his sometimes freakish displays of skill saw him labelled an excitement machine by commentators.
In 2006, Betts kicked a goal from the boundary line in Round 21 against Collingwood in a goal that became the AFL Goal of the Year. In an amazing effort, Betts smothered Tarkyn Lockyer
's attempted clearing kick, ran to gather it just before it went out of bounds, and steadied himself to score with a banana from an impossible angle.
In 2007, Betts continued primarily as a small forward, but began to spend some rotations as a midfielder, particularly late in the season after the appointment of Brett Ratten
as Carlton coach. In Round 22 2007, the last round of the season, Betts kicked 5 goals and racked up 26 possessions, career highs in both statistics.
In Round 2 of the 2008 season against St Kilda, Betts kicked a magnificent left foot banana goal late in the last quarter to receive a goal of the year nomination. It was similar to his goal of the year in 2006 but this time it was a left footer, which was nicely executed but under less pressure.
Betts kicked 42 goals in 2010 to top Carlton's goal kicking for the first time. He played his 100th AFL game in Round 3 of 2010 against Essendon at the MCG
. In the match he kicked two goals, but his Blues fell to Essendon by 20 points. Betts played an outstanding game on 10 May at Etihad Stadium, kicking five goals and gathering 21 disposals in Carlton's 61 point thumping of St Kilda. He kicked five goals again in the Round 12 loss to North Melbourne, four the following week against Fremantle (with 19 disposals) and five again in the next game against the Brisbane Lions. After 14 goals in three weeks he was being talked about as a potential All Australian. He kicked just one goal in his next two games but returned to form the next week with three goals against the West Coast Eagles (with 17 disposals). His 2010 season saw him make the top 10 in the club Best and Fairest for the first time.
In 2011, Betts kicked another 50 goals, including a career-best eight goals against Essendon in Round 18. He was nominated in the 40-man All-Australian
squad, but did not make the final team.
in Kilmore, Victoria
.
In December 2009, Betts was arrested and fined by police after being drunk in public following Carlton players' Christmas party. He was also fined and suspended for one month by the club for the incident. He and other players were sent to a boxing gym and underwent a strenuous training program. This in fact had a positive effect and they applied themselves so well that they achieved best ever levels of fitness (which had never been one of Eddie's strengths) and convinced the club that they had the right attitude.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er playing for Carlton in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Early life
Betts grew up in Kalgoorlie, Western AustraliaKalgoorlie, Western Australia
Kalgoorlie, known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, and is located east-northeast of state capital Perth at the end of the Great Eastern Highway...
and played for the Mines Rovers Football Club
Goldfields Football League
The Goldfields Football League is a regional Australian football league based in the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia. Originally founded in 1896 as Hannans District Football Association, the league enjoyed a seat and full voting rights on the Australian National Football Council until 1919...
. Moving to Melbourne as a teenager, he played in the 2003 Under 18 National Championships for Vic Metro as a 16 year old and was selected in the Under 18 All-Australian team. Whilst he was too young to be selected in the AFL Draft
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
in 2003, he was overlooked in the 2004 AFL Draft
2004 AFL Draft
The 2004 AFL Draft, concerning player acquisitions in the 2004/05 Australian Football League off-season, consisted of a trade period, a national draft, a pre-season draft, and the elevation of rookies...
.
AFL career
Betts was recruited to the AFL through the 2005 Pre-Season Draft2004 AFL Draft
The 2004 AFL Draft, concerning player acquisitions in the 2004/05 Australian Football League off-season, consisted of a trade period, a national draft, a pre-season draft, and the elevation of rookies...
from the Calder Cannons
Calder Cannons
The Calder Cannons are an Australian rules football club from Melbourne, Australia.The club competes in the TAC Cup and fields squads in the U15, 16 and most importantly the U18s. The club was formed in 1995 after the need for two more metropolitan clubs...
by the Carlton Football Club.
In his first season he made attracted attention as a lively small forward during the 2005 Pre-Season. He made his AFL debut for the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in Round 1, 2005 against North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. His early performances saw him become a regular member of the senior team, filling the niche of goal-sneak and chaser for the club, while his sometimes freakish displays of skill saw him labelled an excitement machine by commentators.
In 2006, Betts kicked a goal from the boundary line in Round 21 against Collingwood in a goal that became the AFL Goal of the Year. In an amazing effort, Betts smothered Tarkyn Lockyer
Tarkyn Lockyer
Tarkyn Lockyer is a former professional Australian rules football player who played for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League .- Early life :...
's attempted clearing kick, ran to gather it just before it went out of bounds, and steadied himself to score with a banana from an impossible angle.
In 2007, Betts continued primarily as a small forward, but began to spend some rotations as a midfielder, particularly late in the season after the appointment of Brett Ratten
Brett Ratten
Brett "Ratts" Ratten is a former Australian rules footballer and the current coach of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League....
as Carlton coach. In Round 22 2007, the last round of the season, Betts kicked 5 goals and racked up 26 possessions, career highs in both statistics.
In Round 2 of the 2008 season against St Kilda, Betts kicked a magnificent left foot banana goal late in the last quarter to receive a goal of the year nomination. It was similar to his goal of the year in 2006 but this time it was a left footer, which was nicely executed but under less pressure.
Betts kicked 42 goals in 2010 to top Carlton's goal kicking for the first time. He played his 100th AFL game in Round 3 of 2010 against Essendon at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
. In the match he kicked two goals, but his Blues fell to Essendon by 20 points. Betts played an outstanding game on 10 May at Etihad Stadium, kicking five goals and gathering 21 disposals in Carlton's 61 point thumping of St Kilda. He kicked five goals again in the Round 12 loss to North Melbourne, four the following week against Fremantle (with 19 disposals) and five again in the next game against the Brisbane Lions. After 14 goals in three weeks he was being talked about as a potential All Australian. He kicked just one goal in his next two games but returned to form the next week with three goals against the West Coast Eagles (with 17 disposals). His 2010 season saw him make the top 10 in the club Best and Fairest for the first time.
In 2011, Betts kicked another 50 goals, including a career-best eight goals against Essendon in Round 18. He was nominated in the 40-man All-Australian
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
squad, but did not make the final team.
Personal life
Betts teaches part-time at Assumption CollegeAssumption College, Kilmore
Assumption College is a Roman Catholic, secondary, co-educational, day and Boarding school, located in Kilmore, Victoria, Australia.Founded in 1893, the college first took boarders in 1901, and was a boys' school until 1982, when it became coeducational. The current principal is Mr...
in Kilmore, Victoria
Kilmore, Victoria
Kilmore is a town in the Australian state of Victoria. Located north of Melbourne, it is contentiously claimed as Victoria's oldest inland settled town...
.
In December 2009, Betts was arrested and fined by police after being drunk in public following Carlton players' Christmas party. He was also fined and suspended for one month by the club for the incident. He and other players were sent to a boxing gym and underwent a strenuous training program. This in fact had a positive effect and they applied themselves so well that they achieved best ever levels of fitness (which had never been one of Eddie's strengths) and convinced the club that they had the right attitude.