MOVING closer to family was the primary motivation behind forward Eddie Betts' decision to choose Adelaide over North Melbourne when he exercised his free agency rights on Friday.

 

The 26-year-old restricted free agent spoke to both the Crows and Kangaroos about a fresh start after nine seasons at Carlton.

 

Despite close ties with Roo pair Lindsay Thomas and Daniel Wells, it was the Crows that won the battle for Betts with a desire to move his partner and infant son closer to his father, who lives in South Australia. 

 

"I've got a young family and will start fresh," Betts said on Saturday.

 

"I love the Blues but that's life and I've got to move forward.

 

"There was a fair bit about [money] but it wasn't all about that … it was about family as well that has drawn me across to South Australia.

 

"Security was part of the reason as well. I've got a young family now, a little son, and hopefully we can pay off our house."

 

Betts grew up in Port Lincoln and supported the Crows growing up.

 

His management started talking to the Crows during the year but the four-year deal wasn't in place until three weeks ago.

 

He said the length of the term gave him comfortable security, while the value – believed to be around $2 million - wasn't the kicker but certainly sweetened the deal.

 

There had been conjecture over Betts' relationship with Carlton coach Mick Malthouse and there's been somewhat of a breakdown in the on-field chemistry with Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran.

 

Betts addressed both issues and said they weren't the main reasons behind his departure.

 

"There's been a bit of troubles with the three Amigos, we're not working together and it's been pretty hard," he said.

 

"People were saying we weren't going to work together. 'Yaz' (Yarran) went down back last year or the year before and it worked pretty good and then he came back down forward and we weren't working that well.

 

"I don't think that's the reason why I left but I'm looking forward to it.

 

"A lot of guys have said that [about the relationship with Malthouse] but if anyone knows Mick personally, he's just a family man, a fantastic bloke, and he's not the reason at all."

 

Betts said Yarran and Garlett were sad to see him go despite the increased opportunities both would now receive in front of goal.

 

"They were a bit upset, actually. Chris was like, 'Yeah, I can go back down forward now', and Jeff was pretty happy as well," he said.

 

"He said, 'Yeah, that's good, we'll kick all the goals now."

 

Adelaide forward Taylor Walker has already welcomed Betts into the fold, with a text message telling the 184-game player, "There won't be many crumbs over here brother but we'll be happy to have you".

 

Betts said he was looking forward to playing with a big forward like Walker who could take marks and bring the ball to ground.

 

New teammate Patrick Dangerfield, who presented Betts with a Crows' jumper in Melbourne on Saturday, said he was a great coup for the club, especially in a year where the club has no draft picks in rounds one or two following the Kurt Tippett affair.

 

"If you look at the stats over the last five or six years, Eddie has been one of if not the most potent small forward and his statistics reflect that," Dangerfield said.

 

"We're certainly excited by having him join the side and I think he makes us better as a side.

 

"To be able to get him for basically nothing is certainly important for us, given the ramifications of what's happened over the last couple of seasons,"

 

"He's an important get for us and certainly 'Nobes' [David Noble] and Hamish Ogilvie have done a terrific job."

 

Betts is hopeful the Crows will allow him to travel to Ireland later this month as part of the International Rules series after he was named in the Indigenous squad.

 

Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan