There are turning points in every footballer’s career but for Eddie Betts, the most significant event occurred years before he was even drafted. He was living in Kalgoorlie and was “going down the wrong path” when his mother decided he needed a change of scenery.
At his mum’s insistence, Betts “moved away from all the bad habits and shifted across to Melbourne”. Living in an environment free of unwelcome distractions Betts prospered, and as he puts it, “made something of (his) life.”
He stayed out of trouble, focused on his footy and finally was drafted. Being selected by Carlton was an enormous step in his journey, but the challenges didn’t stop there.
Betts found himself in a positive environment, but some of the issues that had caused problems during his upbringing were still providing difficulties on a day to day basis.
“I couldn’t read and write when I got drafted, so I was taking literacy and numeracy classes for the first three years” – Eddie Betts.
“I couldn’t read and write when I got drafted, so I was taking literacy and numeracy classes for the first three years,” Betts says.
A few years on, the Carlton goal-sneak is more settled than ever, and feels comfortable with his life in the AFL. His friendship group at Carlton plays a big part in him feeling supported. Betts is particularly close with two fellow indigenous players, Chris Yarran and Jeff Garlett.
“We stick together a lot,” Betts says.
That trio is also tightly intertwined with rough-nut Mitch Robinson – who Betts says “thinks he’s black, to be honest” – and young midfielders Kane Lucas and Dennis Armfield.
Betts acknowledges the Carlton boys “mean a lot” to him, and while he describes them as a “second family”, his partner Anna and son Lewis always come first.
Anna recalls meeting Eddie, saying she “didn’t give him a bar for about 12 months” before they eventually got together. It mightn’t be the most romantic story, but it’s one that says a lot about Betts; his life has been full of challenges, and though nothing’s come easy for him, his persistence has always paid off.
Words by Sam McInerney