Adelaide signs Carlton sharpshooter Eddie Betts on four-year deal

EDDIE Betts is free to move to Adelaide now Carlton has decided not to match the Crows' four-year deal.

EDDIE Betts is free to move to Adelaide now Carlton has decided not to match the Crows' four-year deal.

The Blues parted ways with Betts today after the Crows officially lodged his free agent paperwork.

Betts said it was tough decision to leave Visy Park.

"No matter what happens, deep down inside I will always be a Blue boy," he told the club's website.

Betts yesterday told the Blues he would be leaving after accepting a four-year $2 million contract by the Crows.

But money is not the only factor, with Betts eager to be closer to family, particularly his father Eddie Sr, in Port Lincoln.

"I want to say thank you to the Carlton Football Club for giving me the chance to play footy. I was overlooked in the National Draft and they gave me the opportunity.

"My heart goes out to all the Carlton fans – I love them. When I’m having a bad game it’s the fans who get me through. When they shout out my name it gets me going again. I am grateful and thankful to have had a fan base like that. I want the Carlton Cheer Squad in particular to know that they will always be in my heart.

"It’s been a tough decision and I am sad to be going."

Adelaide list manager David Noble said Betts would add potency to the Crows forward line.

"We're thrilled Eddie has chosen to be part of our club," he said.

"We wanted to add more goalkicking power to our forward line and we think Eddie fits the bill perfectly.

"Eddie not only kicks goals, but he creates opportunities and applies strong defensive pressure, which we also identified as a need."

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The Herald Sun first revealed in July that Carlton were not prepared to meet Betts’ asking price.

While the Blues wanted to keep the 26-year-old — a two-time leading goalkicker and dual All-Australian nominee — they weren’t prepared to match the financial interest of Adelaide and also North Melbourne.

Carlton chief executive Greg Swann yesterday paid tribute to Betts, nine years after he joined the club as a pre-season draft pick.

“He will be a loss. He’s a life member of the club and for a guy who came via the pre-season draft, the equivalent of pick No. 98, he has given our club great service,” Swann said.

“He came in and told us this morning that he was going. We wish him and his family all the best. It’s a cracker of a deal from Adelaide.”

Betts’ manager Ned Guy said a more lucrative contract was only one of a range of incentives for his client to switch clubs.

“That’s definitely part of it, but it’s also playing out the rest of his days in a good environment,” Guy said.

“He loves Carlton, he probably didn’t have his best year this year, but that’s one of the factors that we will certainly take into consideration when we make a decision.”

Adelaide yesterday said: “The Adelaide Football Club can confirm an expression of interest has been made to Eddie Betts’ management under the AFL Free Agency rules.

“The Crows intend to lodge the offer with the AFL on Friday at the commencement of the Free Agency period. At that point, the Carlton Football Club will have the right to match the offer to Betts, who is a restricted free agent.”

Betts kicked 290 goals from 184 games with the Blues, booting 48 majors in 2012, 50 in 2011 and 42 in 2010. Injury and suspension dulled his influence this year.