Adelaide star Eddie Betts reveals his frustration with missed shot that cost the Crows against Melbourne
EDDIE Betts would back himself to kick goals from point-blank range nine times out of 10 — which is why his miss in the final minutes against Melbourne continues to sting. But he has vowed to move on, and gone into bat for his under-siege captain.
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IT was the shot for goal that is still stinging Eddie Betts but one he will cast aside as he prepares for this week's Showdown 45.
There was less than a minute left in the Crows’ match against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval last Saturday night and Adelaide was surging.
His teammates could not think of a better man to have the ball in his hand than Betts, who can conjure goals from the tightest situations.
But this time, a sitter hit the post and Betts was still dirty about it — it was the kick that could have changed the season — as he reflected on the shot this week.
“I’m very, very sorry; that’s my bad,” Betts said on FIVEaa.
“Nine out of 10 (times) I kick those ones.
“It just drifted late.
“I thought it was in. I actually thought it was in.
“It would have given us 50 seconds to try and win it.”
Betts conceded the Crows were up against it to make the final from here, even if the club wins its final four matches — starting with this week’s Showdown.
But he said he wouldn’t waste his energy on computer finals predictors or study the ladder and fixture in detail.
“We’ve just got to keep winning; that’s the most important thing,” Betts said. “If we win the next four games anything can happen.
“But we can’t put all our effort into reading into everybody else and worry about if this team beats this team.”
Betts also went into bat for his under-siege captain Taylor Walker, saying while injury had hampered his season on the park, he was still the right man to lead the Crows.
“It’s probably not his best season,” Eddie told said.
“But the last two years he’s been named the best captain in the AFL by his peers.
“You can’t just throw him off because he’s not playing the best footy this year.
“He’s a great captain, Taylor. He’s going to stay in that role. When he’s out on the field he brings players along with him with his presence and he leads by example.”