Eddie Betts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eddie Betts
Betts playing with Adelaide in June 2019
Personal information
Full name	Edward Robert Betts III
Date of birth	(1986-11-26) 26 November 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Port Lincoln, South Australia, Australia
Original team	Calder Cannons (TAC Cup) Templestowe (EFL)
Draft	No. 3, 2004 pre-season draft
Debut	Round 1, 2005, Carlton v. Kangaroos, at Telstra Dome
Position(s)	Small Forward
Career highlights
3× All-Australian: (2015, 2016, 2017) 4× Adelaide leading Goalkicker: (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) 2× Carlton leading Goalkicker: (2010, 2012) 4× AFL Goal of the Year: (2006, 2015, 2016, 2019) Carlton Best First-Year player: (2005)

Edward Robert Betts III (born 26 November 1986) is a famous former Australian rules football player. He played as a forward for the Carlton and Adelaide teams in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 2005 to 2021.

After retiring from playing, Eddie Betts became an educator and mentor for young Indigenous Australian people. He now leads the Eddie Betts Foundation, which helps Indigenous youth in sports. He is also a strong voice against racism.

Eddie Betts was first chosen by Carlton in the 2004 Pre-Season Draft. He played for Carlton for nine years. Then, he joined the Adelaide Crows in 2013. He returned to Carlton in 2020 and finished his career there in 2021. He played a total of 350 games and kicked 640 goals. When he retired, he held the record for goal assists in the AFL, with 318.

Early Life and Junior Football

Eddie Betts was born on 26 November 1986 in Port Lincoln, South Australia. He grew up in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, with his mother, Cindy. His family background includes the Wirangu, Kokatha, and Guburn people. He has said he was a shy child.

He played junior football for the Mines Rovers Football Club. Later, he moved back to Port Lincoln to play for the Mallee Park Peckers. When he was 15, his mother arranged for him to move to Melbourne. There, he joined a TAFE program run by former Indigenous footballer Phil Krakouer.

Moving to Melbourne was a big change for Eddie. He later shared that he struggled with reading and writing at that time. He worked hard to improve his education.

In Melbourne, Eddie played football for Templestowe. He also played for the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup. He was part of the Under 18 All-Australian team in 2003.

Professional Football Career

Playing for Carlton: 2005–2013

Betts playing for Carlton in 2007

Carlton Football Club picked Eddie Betts in the 2004 Pre-Season Draft. He quickly became known as an exciting small forward. He made his AFL debut in 2005. In 2006, he kicked 19 goals in 19 games and became a fan favorite.

In 2007, Eddie won the Goal of the Year award. He kicked an amazing "banana kick" goal from the boundary line. From 2009, his goal-kicking improved a lot. He kicked 42 goals in 2010, leading Carlton's goal-kicking for the first time.

In 2011, he kicked 50 goals, including a career-best eight goals in one game. In 2012, he kicked 48 goals and was a top player for Carlton. At the end of the 2013 season, Eddie decided to join the Adelaide Crows.

Playing for Adelaide: 2014–2019

Eddie Betts in June 2019

In his first year at Adelaide in 2014, Eddie played all 22 games and kicked 51 goals. He led Adelaide's goal-kicking. He also had the most goal assists in the AFL that year. He played his 200th AFL game in 2014.

In 2015, Eddie had an even better season, kicking 63 goals. He earned All-Australian honors for the first time. He also won his second Goal of the Year award for a fantastic left-foot kick.

In 2017, Eddie faced racial abuse during a game. The person responsible was removed from the stadium. In the next game, Eddie was honored and kicked 6 goals. He kicked his 500th career goal in round 7 of that year. Eddie was part of Adelaide's team that played in the Grand Final in 2017.

In 2019, Eddie played his 300th AFL game. In that game, he scored a classic left-footed "banana" goal. This goal won him his fourth AFL Goal of the Year award, which is a record!

Return to Carlton: 2020–2021

After the 2019 season, Eddie Betts was traded back to Carlton. He wore his old number 19 jumper again. On 16 August 2021, Eddie announced that his 350th game would be his last in the AFL. He was carried off the field by his teammates after his final match.

Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, Eddie Betts became a development coach at the Geelong Football Club in October 2021. He helped former teammate Tyson Stengle become a top player. Eddie left his coaching role in November 2022.

Other Activities

Teaching and the Eddie Betts Foundation

While playing for Carlton, Eddie worked as a teacher's aide at Assumption College. He also studied sport recreation, hoping to become a primary school teacher.

After leaving his coaching job, Eddie focused on his foundation, the Eddie Betts Foundation. This charity helps young Indigenous Australians in sports. It runs football and basketball programs, as well as education and mentoring programs.

Books and TV Series

Eddie Betts has created a series of educational books for children called Lil' Homies. He wants to help kids read with confidence and enjoy stories. His first book, My Kind: Rap Yourself and Others in Kindness with Eddie and the Lil' Homies (2018), teaches about kindness and acceptance.

His second book, My People (2019), shares information about Aboriginal culture and Australia's First Nations peoples. Eddie often visits schools to share his knowledge.

The Lil' Homies book series has been made into a ten-part TV series. It was released on NITV and Netflix in early 2024.

Eddie also wrote a memoir called The Boy from Boomerang Crescent, published in 2022. He wrote it to help people understand how Aboriginal people live and the challenges they face.

Recognition and Impact

In 2014, fans and commentators started calling a special part of the Adelaide Oval "Eddie's Pocket." This was because Eddie kicked many difficult goals from that area. His Goal of the Year winning goals in 2015, 2016, and 2019 were from the opposite pocket at the same end.

Eddie Betts was featured in the 2021 TV series Making Their Mark. This show looked at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected AFL clubs and players. In September 2021, Australian musician Paul Kelly released a song inspired by Eddie and his fight against racism. The song is called Every Step of the Way.

Personal Life

Eddie Betts is married to Anna Scullie. They have five children: three boys and twin daughters.

Eddie is very proud of his Aboriginal heritage and culture. He has faced racism during his life and football career. He has become a strong voice against racism in Australia. He believes it is important to speak out against racism whenever it happens. In March 2024, his children faced racial abuse at their home. Eddie shared this incident to highlight the ongoing problem of racism.

Football Honours and Achievements

Team

• NAB Cup (Carlton) 2007
• McClelland Trophy (Adelaide) 2017

Individual

• 3× All-Australian: (2015, 2016, 2017)
• 4× Adelaide leading Goalkicker: (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
• 2× Carlton leading Goalkicker: (2010, 2012)
• 4× AFL Goal of the Year: (2006, 2015, 2016, 2019)
• Carlton Best First-Year player: (2005)

Statistics

Statistics are calculated to end of the 2021 season