AFL champion Eddie Betts calls out racist attack outside his family home

The Crows have thrown their support behind Eddie Betts for calling out a disgusting racial attack while his kids played basketball in their front yard. Watch the video.

The Crows have rallied behind Eddie Betts for calling out disgusting racist behaviour which targeted his children outside his Victorian family home.

The Indigenous champion – a former Adelaide and Carlton player – took to Instagram on Thursday night to post security footage which shows a car slowly driving past the house and yelling racial slurs multiple times.

Meanwhile, Betts’ kids are seen playing basketball next to the property.

In the caption, Betts’ expressed his pain and disappointment over the vile attack.

“Aboriginal kids deserve to be able to play safely, free from racism and abuse over the fence. We are not even safe in our own homes,” he wrote.

Betts' children were playing outside when the racist attack occurred. Picture: Supplied

In Betts’ typical class, he offered to speak to the attacker and educate how their actions have hurt his children.

The Adelaide Football Club condemned the racist behaviour, describing it as “simply not good enough”.

“There is no place for it in our society and as a Club, we strongly condemn this abhorrent and cowardly behaviour,” a club statement said.

“We stand with Eddie Betts and his family. He is, and always will be, a much loved and respected part of the Crows family.

“As a Club, we express our love and care, and best wishes for healing, for the children and families subjected to the racist abuse which Eddie has quite rightly brought to everyone’s attention.”

AFL boss Andrew Dillon praised Betts’ leadership and courage during the distressing time.

“Once again, we find ourselves in a position where we must express our strongest condemnation against another example of overt racism, this time targeting children playing sport in their own front yard,” Dillon said.

“We acknowledge the leadership of Eddie Betts for bringing this to national attention. Racism is wrong. Racism is harmful. Racism requires a response.

“The AFL takes this opportunity to remind everyone at all levels of the game, that racist behaviour is never welcome. Anywhere.”

In Eddie Betts’ typical class, he offered to speak to the attacker and educate how their actions have hurt his children. Picture: Supplied

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie condemned it as “abhorrent, disgusting, disturbing.”

“I can’t imagine how that must have felt for those for those kids,” she said on the Today show on Friday morning.

“As much as Eddie says he’d like to know who this is, so he can have a chat to them … I don’t think they’d be open to that and I think unfortunately they may well thrive off some of the notoriety.

“I can only hope for the Betts family, that the outpouring of support and the fact that this is being publicly called out by pretty much everybody else, gives them some sense that we don’t all hate them.”

Senator McKenzie said it was appalling to see we still have people with racist views living among us and it was the responsibility of every Australian to stamp it out.

“It’s a timely reminder that it’s not just famous people like Eddie, who are subjected to racial vilification,” she said.

“It’s everyday Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, our Jewish community and all of us have a responsibility to call it out, stand up for it.”

The footy world got around Betts to condemn the disgusting behaviour.

Melbourne star Christian Petracca wrote: “Disgusting!!! Thinking of you and the family.”

Meanwhile, Liam Ryan of the West Coast Eagles said: “That’s eff’d up my bro.”

Others also came to put in support for Betts including Shayn Burgoyne, Steven May, Kysaiah Pickett and Bradley Hill.

On Friday morning, Betts took the time to thank everyone’s kind responses on social media.

He wrote: “Thanks everyone for your support. It’s not going to stop the kids from playing ball”.