By TOM HAYES
FORMER AFL superstar Eddie Betts recently delivered an important message to primary school students.
Betts visited Newborough East Primary School for a presentation, which was set to inspire, and simultaneously teach students valuable lessons.
Chants of ‘Eddie, Eddie, Eddie’ might’ve been heard from neighbouring towns as the primary school students waited with anticipation to see the four-time AFL Goal of the Year recipient.
Betts was known for his freakish ability with the football, playing 350 games for Carlton and Adelaide, but his career gained a new focus when he became a victim of racial vilification.
Since that instance, Betts has been a frontrunner against racism of all forms, but also racism that happens at the football toward AFL players.
During the hour-long presentation, Betts spoke on his time growing up as a kid in Port Lincoln and Kalgoorlie, the family connections he garnered and how he grew a love for sport of all kinds.
After leaving school in Year 8, he was left with little to no reading, writing, or numeracy skills, admitting when he saw his first AFL contract that he had no idea what it meant.
He spoke on the hardships he faced when eventually moving to Melbourne, which included getting to and from football training when playing for Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup.
Betts shared his experiences of getting drafted, playing for the Blues, the Crows, and the Blues for a second time around, including the challenges he faced as an Aboriginal player.
During the second half of his career, he became heavily involved in the anti-racism world, and shared how racist comments and actions made him feel, which appeared to resonate with the students in the room.
More recently, Betts released his autobiography The Boy From Boomerang Crescent, which covers much of what he spoke about on the day.
His book became the winner of the Australian Book Industry Awards for Social Impact Book of the Year and was also longlisted for the 2023 Indie Book Awards.
More for the kids in attendance, Betts spoke on the success of his children’s books My Kind and My People which were later developed into an animated, Logie nominated TV series Eddie’s Lil Homies.
Those in attendance were excited to find out that Betts had some more episodes in the works for his TV show.
After the presentation, Betts was happy enough to stick around to give out hi-fives, sign autographs, and get photos to not only students but also staff who might have been more fond of his playing days.
He was hopeful that his presentation could teach others to spread kindness and “leave a smile on someone’s face”, which he says he lives his life by.
