Eddie Betts’ return to Carlton would be perfect gift for patient Blues fans — and the star himself

Eddie Betts is preparing for a ‘homecoming’ to Carlton. He is not the first AFL player to seek a return to his original club, but this move to the Blues will overwhelm all others.

Eddie Betts high fives Carlton fans after an elimination final win in 2013. Picture: MICHAEL KLEIN

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Josh Carr came back. Mr Showdown left Port Adelaide, immediately after its breakthrough 2004 AFL premiership, to return to his home in Perth to play four seasons at the Dockers alongside his brother Matthew.

At the end of 2008, when Matthew Carr retired, Josh Carr was back at Alberton for the 2009-2010 seasons … and to advance his remarkable, perfect record in Showdowns to 10 wins from 10 derbies.

Gary Ablett made his return to Geelong last season.

You can go “home”.

Bye, bye Eddie Betts. He came to Adelaide — as a free agent from Carlton — for the 2014 season when SA football returned to its home at Adelaide Oval. He will leave after 132 AFL games — and 310 goals — with the Crows having carved his name on three of the four pockets at the Oval.

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Eddie Betts celebrates with Crows co-captain Rory Sloane and fans after an win this season. Picture SARAH REED

He also has put his hand on the heart of every Crows fan … some of whom in 2013 questioned why then Crows football boss David Noble spent $2 million to offer Betts a four-year contract as a free agent.

It is the best money ever shelled out by the Adelaide football department (by a man who is now masterminding the revival of the Lions in Brisbane).

Welcome “home” Eddie Betts. He left Carlton with every Blues fan taking issue with coach Michael Malthouse and not Betts (more so after Malthouse used the free-agency system to lure Dale Thomas from Collingwood at Betts’ expense).

Betts has never been tagged a “defector” by Carlton fans. He always has acknowledged the Carlton cheer squad before and after Adelaide-Carlton games in the past six seasons.

Carr’s return to Port Adelaide in 2009 also was of a favourite player returning “home”.

Betts’ re-entry at Carlton in 2020 will be greater than even Gary Ablett’s homecoming at Kardinia Park after his seven-year absence at Gold Coast.

Betts reaffirms Carlton is coming out of a dark spot.

And so is Eddie.

New Carlton coach David Teague, who has been speaking with Betts to set up the return to Princes Park, is noted for telling it all as it is rather than leaning on spin (a trait that did annoy the secretive Crows when he was Adelaide’s forwards coach until 2017).

Teague’s remarks highlight Betts needs a change after two difficult years in Adelaide where his remarkable football has been soured by racial issues and that much-questioned pre-season camp on the Gold Coast last year.

A smiling Eddie Betts walks off the ground with former teammate, Crows assistant and now Carlton coach David Teague.

Eddie Betts after the Crows’ season-ending loss to Western Bulldogs. Picture: AAP Image/Scott Barbour

“Wherever (Betts) plays next year, I hope he plays with joy again,” said Teague, who coached Betts at West Lakes from 2015-2017.

“And he has fun.

“He looks like is not having fun … AFL fans love him; everyone loves Eddie Betts … and the reason they love Eddie Betts is because he is out there, having fun — smiling and entertaining.

“We need to get him having fun again. That’s what football is about — it should not be a chore; it should not be hard. You’ve got to work hard … but the really good players make it fun.”

Betts is not the first AFL player to seek a return to his “original” club, as noted with Carr at Port Adelaide and Ablett at Geelong. But Betts’ comeback to Carlton would overwhelm all others. A supporter base that had its collective heart broken at the end of 2013 would feel re-energised at a time when Carlton fans are owed much by their club.

Adelaide fans will feel empty. But they have to accept Betts was not to play forever. However, his memory — and his mark on three pockets at Adelaide Oval — will last for a long, long time.

And Betts does, as Teague notes, deserve to play with a smile on his face again.

Originally published as Eddie Betts’ return to Carlton would be perfect gift for patient Blues fans — and the star himself