‘Frustrated’ Adelaide Crows star Eddie Betts says he will play against St Kilda, despite his wife expecting twins

A ‘FRUSTRATED’ Eddie Betts — who has gone goalless in consecutive matches for the first time in eight years — says he will play against St Kilda in Melbourne on Saturday night, despite his wife Anna expecting twins any day.

Eddie Betts during the Round 2 AFL match against Richmond on Thursday. He has vowed to play on Saturday, regardless of whether his wife is about to give birth. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

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A “FRUSTRATED’’ Eddie Betts — who has gone goalless in consecutive matches for the first time in eight years — says he will play against St Kilda in Melbourne on Saturday night, despite his wife Anna expecting twins any day.

The brilliant Adelaide goalsneak says Anna has given him the green light to fly to Melbourne with his Crows teammates on Friday and told him “once you get on the plane don’t bother coming back’’.

“She has a good support crew coming over from Melbourne so she’s given me permission to play,’’ Betts said.

“Hopefully she can hold on for another four or five days, but we’ll see what happens.’’

Betts and Anna, who have two young boys, Lewis and Billy, are expecting twins. They do not know the gender of the pair.

Crows star Eddie Betts tackles Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Eddie Betts is a picture of focus ahead of Thursday’s game. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Betts admitted his frustration at having not kicked a goal in back-to-back matches for the first time in his five-year Crows career and only time since rounds eight and nine, 2010, when he was at Carlton.

He denied he was being restricted by a supposed hamstring injury after he was spotted grabbing at his leg during Adelaide's superb six-goal win against Richmond in the grand final rematch at Adelaide Oval last Thursday.

“I’m fit, there’s no problem there,’’ the 31-year-old told FIVEaa.

“If you look at my form I had 14 disposals in the first game (against Essendon) and 20 against Richmond and I average 11 (for his career).

“But after the Richmond win I went home and I kind of was frustrated, it was an average, weird feeling because I haven’t kicked a goal in two games. That hasn’t happened since 2010.

“But I said to myself that it's going to happen, the goals will come. The ball’s not bouncing my way but I know I’m only a bee’s bum away from getting it floating my way.’’

Betts, who has kicked 534 goals in 279 games and has been Adelaide’s leading goalkicker in each of his four years at the club with his lowest return being 51 in 2014, said he is still playing his role in the side.

“Apart from the (lack of) goals I’m pretty happy with the way I’m going because I’m playing my role as far as putting pressure on in the forward line is concerned and keeping the ball down there,’’ he said.

Eddie Betts under pressure against Richmond. He is yet to kick a goal this season. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Coach Don Pyke said he isn’t worried about Betts’ lean start to the season, saying it just means the triple All-Australian is close to a bag of goals.

“I’m really happy with how he’s playing,’’ Pyke said.

“He’s not hitting the scoreboard, which for a guy who’s hit the scoreboard as consistently as he has over his career, is probably a little frustrating for him.

“I’m really confident with Eddie that it’s a matter of as early as week that he’ll hit the scoreboard again, he’s not far away.”

Betts, meanwhile, refused to reveal his thoughts on Adelaide’s controversial mind-training pre-season camp on the Gold Coast.

“I’ve just move on because we’ve got footy now and we need to focus on that,’’ he said.

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