34 Facts About Eddie Betts

Edward Robert Betts III was born on 26 November 1986 and is a former Australian rules football player who played as a forward for Carlton and Adelaide in the Australian Football League between 2005 and 2021.

Eddie Betts was originally drafted by Carlton with pick No 3 in the 2004 Pre-Season Draft, where he played for nine years before Adelaide signed him as a free agent at the end of 2013.

Eddie Betts moved back to Carlton at the conclusion of the 2019 season, where he would finish his career at the end of the 2021 season, having played a total of 350 games and kicked 640 goals.

Edward Robert Eddie Betts III was born on born 26 November 1986 in Port Lincoln, South Australia, and raised by his mother, Cindy, in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

Eddie Betts is of Wirangu, Kokatha and Guburn people, and describes himself as having been a shy child.

Eddie Betts grew up surrounded by a large extended family, on both his mother's and father's side, in which everyone was very caring and loving.

Eddie Betts played junior football for the Mines Rovers Football Club, before moving back to Port Lincoln, where his father lived, to play for the Mallee Park Peckers.

Eddie Betts later wrote about his lack of literacy skills at this time, and how he struggled with understanding what was written on the boards about football.

In Melbourne, Eddie Betts played football for Templestowe, where he won the EFL Division 3 league best and fairest in 2002, and TAC Cup football for the Calder Cannons.

Eddie Betts represented Vic Metro as a 16-year-old in the 2003 AFL Under 18 Championships and was selected in the Under 18 All-Australian team that season.

Eddie Betts was too young to be selected in the AFL draft at the end of 2003, and he played another season with the Cannons, but was hindered by osteitis pubis.

Eddie Betts was overlooked in the 2004 National Draft as a result.

Eddie Betts attracted attention as a lively small forward during the 2005 pre-season, and made his AFL debut in round 1 against the Kangaroos.

Eddie Betts kicked 19 goals in 19 games in 2006, playing as a permanent small forward and becoming a fan favourite.

The next year, Eddie Betts won the Goal of the Year for his goal in round 21 against Collingwood, a banana kick from the boundary under pressure.

Eddie Betts started slowly in 2011, being on the cusp of being dropped early in the season, but rebounded to kick 50 goals for the season, including a career-best eight goals against Essendon in round 18.

Eddie Betts kicked 48 goals in 2012, stepping up in the absence of several of the Blues' key forwards to become their major forward target.

Eddie Betts kicked 27 goals in 18 games in a 2013 season interrupted by a suspension and a fractured jaw, including five goals in Carlton's two finals.

Eddie Betts had more goal assists than anyone else in the AFL and was ranked third in the league for tackles inside the forward 50.

Eddie Betts played his 200th AFL game against Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval in round 17.

On 26 May 2015, the AFL launched an inquiry into Eddie Betts' signing with Adelaide after the outgoing Carlton coach, Mick Malthouse, claimed to have been told by the current Carlton and former Adelaide CEO Steven Trigg that Adelaide had illegally signed Eddie Betts 18 months prior to him departing Carlton.

Eddie Betts was awarded the Goal of the Year in 2015 for the second time in his career; against Fremantle in wet conditions, he managed to control the ball near the boundary at half-forward and kicked a left-foot torpedo punt from 50 metres out on the boundary line, which dribbled through for a goal.

Eddie Betts had another good performance in 2017's Sir Douglas Nicholls Indigenous Round, kicking three goals in the Crows' 100-point win over Fremantle.

Eddie Betts was a part of Adelaide's losing Grand Final team that year, kicking one goal in the match.

In 2018, Eddie Betts kicked only 29 goals for the year, making it his worst return in 5 years at the Crows.

Also in 2018, Eddie Betts missed four matches due to hamstring injuries, having missed only one match in his previous four seasons at Adelaide.

On 16 August 2021, Eddie Betts announced via Instagram he would be playing his 350th and final AFL match against Greater Western Sydney on 21 August 2021.

When Eddie Betts entered the AFL at 17 years of age, he had the reading and writing ability of a six- to seven-year-old, and knows the challenges and disadvantage this can cause young people, leading him to create a series of educational books for children.

Eddie Betts is often asked to visit schools to share his knowledge and experience.

Eddie Betts married his long-term partner, Anna Scullie, in a surprise wedding in August 2015, after several years' engagement.

Eddie Betts has a lot of pride in his Aboriginal heritage and culture.

Eddie Betts cites his favourite moment was the goal that he kicked in the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round while wearing a jersey designed by his Aunt Susie Betts, which became his third Goal of the Year.

Eddie Betts has faced racism in his life and during his football career, and has become "a prominent voice against racism in Australia".

Eddie Betts felt a responsibility as a leader for taking a stand, and to continue to call out racism whenever it occurred.