Carlton fans didn’t come home with the 4 points last Saturday night but they witnessed a great game of football and saw some outstanding individual performances. None more so than Eddie Betts 3 goal virtuoso performance in the 2nd quarter. Mike and Dan caught up with Eddie to discuss the play of the day, his journey to becoming a Carlton fan-favourite and his favourite pizza.
First things first, we couldn’t decide which of Eddie’s goals was the best: the casual pick up and snap over the shoulder from 45m, the classic rove off the pack and weaving through 4 defenders in a Matrix-type moment to slot the goal or the soccer off the ground after Matty Lappin had brought a behind-bound ball to ground under intense pressure. So we asked Eddie to decide.
Which was your favourite goal, Eddie?
You want me to choose? (Laughs) Probably I’d say the snap from 48m (Thanks for the correction Eddie) because I can’t even kick that far with a drop punt.
It was one of those days with no flooding and an old fashioned shootout, especially in the first half, that supporters love. What was it like to be out there playing?
It was amazing; the attitude to the game from the players and the reactions from the crowd. We knew it would be a tough game. We’d beaten Brisbane there in the NAB Cup and Denis told us they’d come out hard. It was great to play in because these days most clubs do flood.
As a small forward, what game plan do you enjoy: the empty forward line running into space or the numbers around the contest and crumbing?
Definitely crumbing off the pack. It’s much more exciting for me doing that with players around the ball and still being able to get through.
Sometimes you appear to be playing CHF with strong leads down an empty forward corridor. Are you competing with Josh Kennedy for the power forward job?
(Laughs) No, certainly not. That’s Josh’s job. I’m happy to play off his feet. I’ll let him bring the ball down for me.
It’s your 3rd season at the club. Most of your time has been spent as a small forward. Is that where you see your future at the club or are you eyeing off the centre square?
Denis is trying to get me to spend more time in the midfield as well as up forward. So hopefully I’ll play as a forward/midfielder.
You have an uncanny knack of reading the ball off the contest and timing your runs to perfection. Is it something you were born with or have you worked on it in junior footy?
Wouldn’t have a clue. It just happens for me.
For a small guy, your chases and tackling are inspirational. How did that come about?
I think that’s one of the things I am in the team for. Denis is always telling me don’t worry about the goals, just keep tackling and keep chasing and the goals will come.
4 players have played 100 games in the No.19 guernsey for Carlton. How many can you remember?
Ian Collins is the only one I can remember. That’s only because he keeps reminding me every time he sees me. “It’s good to see that number 19 jumper running around, Eddie” he keeps saying. (For the record the others are Ron Cooper, Denis Zeunert and John O’Connell)
Chris Johnson was at the other end of the ground on Saturday. He started 13 years ago as a small forward. He’s played back, forward and midfield at an elite level since. Is he someone you look to as a role model?
Yes he’s definitely a role model. He can play any position on the ground. Especially as an Aboriginal player coming up, he’s someone I really look up to. Every Aboriginal player coming through the system should use Chris as a role model of how they should handle themselves. Also I admire Andrew McLeod; he’s just an absolute champion.
Who at Carlton do you look up to for what they have achieved?
Kouta, he’s one of the best players at the club with what he has achieved. He trains hard, in fact he’s probably training harder than even now that he’s injured. We definitely need him back in the team.
The Carlton player I look up to the most isn’t at the club anymore, Cory McGrath was just the best guy to have around. He was very professional and worked very hard to keep himself in the best condition. But mostly for me, he looked after me and took me under his wing and I’ll always thank him for that.
Who is your roommate on interstate trips and what can you tell us about them that would embarrass him badly?
This year, I’ve roomed with Cameron Cloke a couple of times. Cam brings everything he can think of from home: his laptop, DVD movies, games the lot. You don’t get bored if you stay with Clokey.
You’re a WA boy but you were drafted from the Calder Cannons. What’s the story there?
It was Mum’s idea for me to come across when I was a teenager. She was worried I was mixing with the wrong crowd and she wanted me to get the best out of myself. I joined up with the Aboriginal Footballers Development Program which is run by Phil Krakouer.
I played at Templestowe and Phil contacted Calder and asked them to give me a go. I ended up there for 2 years, played back to back flags and got picked up by Carlton in the Pre-season Draft. (Mike and Dan would like to extend a big thankyou to Mrs Betts and Phil Krakouer on behalf of all Carlton fans)
Your player sponsors include a poultry shop. Do you get a roast chook for every goal?
Yeah, they told me to come over whenever I want one but then I found out they kill and pack the chooks not cook them. Maybe I should pick a couple up this Sunday for roast.
Brett Ratten is the forwards coach at the club, which is interesting given he started as a defender and ended up a midfield champ. What influence has he had on you forwards this year?
He’s awesome. We can learn a lot from Brett. He’s a club champion and he’s got a lot of new ideas and game plans that have really helped us out. All the new coaches have brought a large difference from last year.
In your career you’ve won the 2005 Best First Year Player at Carlton, the 2006 AFL Goal of the Year and a 2007 NAB premiership. What’s your favourite achievement and what’s next?
All of them are pretty good. Hopefully next is to play finals footy with Carlton.
Now the most important question for a Carlton player to answer. What is Melbourne’s best pizza?
Hawaiian.
Eddie Betts is many things; a more than handy footballer and goalscorer, an ‘excitement machine’ for the fans, a rising role model for young Aboriginal footballers and a pretty decent bloke to spend 10 minutes with. Now we can add to that list that he’s a ham and pineapple man…
