Number Crunch: Crow Eddie Betts is the best small forward in the game, says Bombers great Tim Watson
HIS teammates are as mesmerised as the rest of us by Eddie Betts’ magic. He is putting together one of the best seasons ever by a small forward, says Andrew Capel. Replay Capel’s chat on our Facebook page.
BRODIE Smith shakes his head and describes him as a “freak’’.
Tom Lynch calls him “really special’’, looks to the heavens and says “thank God he’s here’’.
Rory Laird says he was in such awe of Eddie Betts’ heroics during the elimination final thumping of North Melbourne that he turned to defensive sidekick Jake Lever and said “how do you stop that?’’
Suddenly the $2 million, four-year contract Adelaide controversially forked out to secure small forward excitement machine Betts from Carlton three years ago looks like one of the AFL’s biggest steals.
REPLAY Andrew Capel’s live video chat now on our Facebook page.
Betts, 29, is producing one of the greatest seasons ever by a small forward and is leading the Crows’ inspired charge to premiership glory.
His 72 goals leading into tomorrow’s semi-final against Sydney at the SCG is a career-high and the third-most kicked by a player classified as a small forward by the AFL’s official player analyst Champion Data since 1999.
Only Melbourne goalshark Jeff Farmer (76 in 2000) and the Western Bulldogs’ fast-leading Brad Johnson (75 in 2006), who is 182cm but rated as a small by Champion, have booted more goals in a season than Betts in the past 18 years.
Betts could race past them against the Swans this weekend.
The 172cm pocket rocket is having a season for the ages.
His 72 goals is nine more than his previous best season haul of 63 last year.
A veteran of 252 games after spending his first nine seasons at Carlton, the Port Lincoln product is averaging career-highs in goals (3.1), score involvements (7.9), contested marks (0.9) and ranking points (89).
His goals have come from all sources — 35 from marks, 15 on the run, 12 from snap shots, eight from free kicks and two from soccer kicks off the ground, illustrating he is the total package.
Essendon great Tim Watson says Betts’ one-man freak show against the Kangaroos, which produced six goals, saw him overtake four-times Hawthorn premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist Cyril Rioli as the best small forward in the game right now.
“As great as Cyril is I think Eddie’s gone past him,’’ Watson said on Channel Seven’s Talking Footy.
“It’s the dynamic nature of the way he plays. He’s producing in terms of numbers goal-wise and the creation of goals and he’s still a good defensive player too with his tackling capabilities and ability to force turnovers.
“He’s just been an extraordinary get for the Adelaide Crows.’’
Crows cult figure Betts has played the pivotal role in Adelaide becoming the league’s most potent team, averaging 114.1 points a game.
He can rip an opposition to shreds in the air and on the ground.
“There’s really no words to describe him, he’s just unbelievable,’’ teammate Smith said.
“That mark he took in the goalsquare (against North) when he fell over and was out of position and just somehow got himself there (to mark), it was freakish.
“He’s just inspiring and as teammates we love him and can’t speak highly enough of him.’’
Crows defender Laird described Betts as the most exciting “drop-your-jaw type of player’’ he has seen.
“He’s good in the air, good on the ground and easily the best small forward in the competition at the moment,’’ Laird said.
“We just kick the ball somewhere near him and he makes something good happen.’’
As brilliant as Betts has been this season, he faces his moment of truth against the Swans.
All-Australian backman Nick Smith has a superb record on Betts, restricting him to just nine goals in their 11 head-to-head meetings.
Smith has held Betts goalless seven times and conceded multiple goals only twice — four in round six, 2011, when he played for the Blues and three in round four against the Crows this year.
When Betts has been held this season Adelaide has struggled.
He has kicked only eight goals in its five losses — well below his season average of 3.1.
His match-up with Smith could decide the semi-final.
andrew.capel@news.com.au
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