‘It’s not safe’: Betts’ plan to stamp out racism in footy

AFL legend Eddie Betts has revealed a three-point plan to boost career opportunities for Indigenous Australians and stamp out racism in footy.

AFL legend Eddie Betts will help deliver the Coles Healthy Kicks program to Indigenous communities across Australia. Picture: Graham Denholm

AFL legend Eddie Betts has outlined his three-point plan to improve education prospects, career paths, and safe spaces in sport for Indigenous Australians.

“I’m proud of the little shy kid that didn’t talk, that didn’t want to speak up, who became the person I am now, a leader, not just within the AFL, but Australia,” Betts told the Herald Sun.

“I played AFL for 17 years and yes, I had a super career, but my journey starts now. I have a more important role to play for my people and my family, and that’s to stamp out racism and to use my voice.”

The Carlton and Adelaide champion, who retired from football in August, will use his ambassador role with retail giant Coles, and its corporate muscle, to deliver plans including:

• Improving literacy and numeracy levels in Aboriginal communities. Betts couldn’t read or write when he was 18.

• Teaching corporate Australia about Indigenous styles of leadership in the business sector.

• Making the football industry a safe space for players of colour.

“I want to help the AFL, and I want it to be a safe place,” Betts said.

“We grew up loving footy, and playing AFL, but it’s not safe. I want it to be a safe spot because we get racially abused all the time.”

Betts said he also accepted a commentator role at Fox Footy this year so “my people, my culture, see an Aboriginal face on mainstream TV talking about issue that relate to them.”

Betts also plans to expand his message to business boardrooms across Australia.

“I want to help organisations lead Aboriginal people into employment and leadership roles because we lead differently, and it’s powerful.

“We’re not always the ones up the front talking, we’re not always the one with the Power Point presentation,” Betts said.

“The way we grew up, the way we live our lives is we’re caring, we’re loving, and we bring people together. That’s our leadership.”

Betts is already running numeracy and literacy programs, and says he doesn’t want another generation to struggle with learning, as he once did.

“I couldn’t read or write when I was 18,” he said. “I didn’t go to school and I skipped a lot.

“It was tough. I could read and write some things, but at the level of a 13-year-old. I didn’t understand big words.

Betts added: “I was signing contracts, and I didn’t know what I was signing.”

He trusted his manager to explain the legal documents.

“We needed that trust because I had no idea,” Betts said. “In the end, I asked for help (with reading and writing). Help is always there, but you have to ask.

“My main message is, stay in school because education is key. I want kids to be role models, I want them to be leaders.”