Betts expected to call it a day
Eddie Betts looks poised to call time on his storied career as soon as Monday, with the champion goalsneakâs 350th match likely to be his last.
Carlton refused to confirm nor deny a 5AA report on Sunday that Betts would announce his retirement on Monday, while Bettsâ management group did not return calls from The Age. However industry sources indicated they were expecting Betts, 34, would play his final game against Greater Western Sydney next weekend.
Carlton star Eddie Betts is expected to call time on his playing career.Credit:Getty Images
The three-time All-Australian signed a one-year contract extension at the end of last season while agreeing to be downgraded to a rookie-list spot in what was the second season of his Carlton homecoming, after six seasons with Adelaide.
After battling an injury during the pre-season, Betts has played 18 senior games this year, kicking 25 goals.
He went goalless on Saturday night as Carlton were annihilated by 95 points against Port Adelaide, a defeat which Blues coach David Teague conceded had not helped his chances of retaining his job for 2022.
Teagueâs future â" along with those of many in the clubâs football department â" had hinged on the findings of an independent review tabled to the Bluesâ board last week but whose findings are yet to be made public.
Eddie Betts in action against Port Adelaide on Saturday.Credit:AFL Photos
âItâs always a joint decision. Weâll sit down with Eddie and have those conversations,â Teague said of Bettsâ future earlier this month.
âHe brings a lot to this football club. Whether thatâs as a player or not next year, weâd love to have him involved.
âPersonally, and from a club point of view, weâd love to have Eddie involved with us for the next five to 10 years.
âHeâs such a great mentor, such a great help not only for our small forwards but also from an Indigenous point of view.â
Eddie Betts will go down as an all-time great. Credit:AFL Photos
Betts and Teague are close, having played together and then worked together at the Crows when Teague was an assistant coach at West Lakes.
In any case, Betts will go down as an all-time great, having kicked 638 goals across his 17-season career, winning the AFLâs goal-of-the-year award four times.
He has also spoken tirelessly about race issues, with the Indigenous great only last week baring his soul again after the Taylor Walker scandal.
âIt actually really hurts to be honest,â Betts told Fox Footy last week. âIâm starting to get emotional just talking about it here â" everything that has happened over the last 48 hours to the last week.
âItâs been hard and I reckon I just need everyone to really go on a journey to start educating, to start those conversations.
âTaylor Walker is going on his journey at the moment. I know the kind of person Taylor is and he will hold to his word. Heâll do this with 110 per cent â" it just hurts.â
It has been a taxing period for the Blues, who have also had to manage the retirement of former captain Marc Murphy and deal with co-captain Sam Dochertyâs cancer recurrence.
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Daniel Cherny is an Age sports reporter.
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