Meet the man who made AFL legend Eddie Betts say yes to playing in Darwin in the NTFL
He is the man who helped pull off the biggest coup in Territory football history. And it all started with just a text a month ago.
THEY say a week is a long time in football.
Which must mean that in a month you can work miracles in football.
Well, that is certainly what Tyron Maher has done.
He is the man who has been the brains behind what will be the biggest signing in NTFL history – Eddie Betts.
The AFL champion revealed to the NT News on Thursday that he is still coming up to play in the NTFL and mentor Indigenous youth in communities throughout the region.
That is despite the fact he signed on as Geelong’s development coach on Wednesday, but he won’t officially start in that role until January 17.
This will leave the 34-year-old with plenty of time to come to Darwin, and even quarantine at Howard Springs with his family for two weeks.
And the man who helped pull this off is Maher, a humble lower-grader who went to Wanderers from Palmerston this season.
Maher has been best mates with Betts for more than 20 years.
“This has been in the works for the past month. Eddie messaged me and said he wanted to come up, and I said ‘no worries’,” Maher said.
“Eddie and I have been great mates for 21 years – I’m actually the godfather to his daughter.
“We used to live together and met at a footy camp run by Phil Krakouer when I was 14 or 15.
“Eddie loves keeping in touch with his mates and he’s not stuck up at all.”
In fact, when the NT News interviewed Betts on Thursday, the three-time All Australian made sure Maher would get a mention.
“Please give Tyron a mention – he’ll get a real kick out of that,” Betts said of the youth development officer with B18. Maher – just like Betts will do when he comes to the Territory and mentors Indigenous youths on how to live better lives – loves to help kids grow into successful adults.
“We take them out on hunting trips, and we teach them respect for their culture,” said Maher, with B18’s mission statement to empower youth to engage in designing their whole lives: for healthy, sustainable and confident futures before and beyond 18.
Maher believes Betts will light up the NTFL competition if he does pull on the boots, the little superstar saying that would be “highly likely” at Palmerston.
“We played together at Templestowe in Victoria, and when he was 15 he was the leading goalscorer in the league,” Maher said.
“Everything he did on a football field was just magical.
“He was a freak.
“He’s going to be great for Territory football – Eddie will get bums on seats.”
St Mary’s former co-captain Raph Clarke played against Betts when he was with St Kilda from 2004 to 2012.
“He’s like Cyril Rioli the stuff Eddie Betts can do,” Clarke said.
“One minute you think you’ve got him covered, and the next minute he’s three or four metres away from you.”
Buffaloes captain Jarrod Stokes also cannot wait to see Betts play in the NTFL. “For me personally it’d be great because Eddie was one of my idols growing up,” he said.
“It won’t be fun playing against him but it’ll be a great experience.”
****************
BETTS: I DON’T WANT TO BE SEEN AS SOMEONE ESCAPING MELBOURNE
EDDIE Betts’ commitment to come to Darwin and quarantine with his family at Howard Springs for two weeks is not only commendable, it is just the start of what is set to be an admirable off-field career.
While the champion three-time All Australian is set to officially confirm he will play in the NTFL and likely for Palmerston, Betts is just as passionate about empowering Indigenous communities as he was about becoming a better football when he was at the top of the AFL mountain.
“I’ve now got a role with Fox Footy and that is a great opportunity for me to educate Australia through mainstream media about tackling racism,” he told the NT News.
“My people who love footy will be able to relate to what I say on television.
“If you look back over my career I played 17 years in the AFL but only had one leadership role.
“Aboriginal people live differently.
“This is why a lot of Aboriginal communities don’t want to be vaccinated, because we’ve lived through the Stolen Generations and had land stolen off us, so there is mistrust there.
“But we’re great people who want to bring everyone together.
“This is why I want to come to the Territory and talk to our Indigenous communities.
“The world is changing and we have to move with it.
“I’m double-vaccinated because I want to protect my family.”
Coming to the Territory is something Betts has wanted to do for years.
“I’ve wanted to go to Arnhem Land for a long time, because in these communities people just want to go and watch the footy.
“You see all the smiles and their faces and the kids just love it.
“But footy is not on my radar as much as talking to these communities.
“I want to educate our Indigenous kids about the importance of going to school.”
Betts is not coming up for a holiday
AFL superstar Eddie Betts wants to make one thing clear – he’s not coming up to Darwin to escape the ongoing Covid crisis in Victoria.
While highly conscious of the reaction this might cause among the hundreds of thousands currently in lockdown, Betts will sacrifice two weeks of his freedom to quarantine with his family at Howard Springs when he arrives in the Top End.
That could be in a matter of weeks after getting an NT Government exemption to come to the Territory during these unprecedented times.
“A lot of Victorians are angry about being in lockdown conditions for so long and I understand why that is so frustrating,” Betts said.
“I’m conscious of how this looks and I don’t want people to think I’m escaping the lockdown.” The retired AFL legend will enjoy the renowned Territory lifestyle, but there is no questioning his motive to come north.
Betts will work with Indigenous communities and educate them on how to live better lives through his Coles Healthy Kicks program.
Eddie confirms he’s talked to Palmerston
PALMERSTON is still on track to announce the biggest signing in NTFL history – Eddie Betts is has been in discussions with the Magpies.
The 34-year-old has revealed to the NT News he is still coming to Darwin.
But there could yet be another twist to this developing story.
While Betts has not officially signed with Palmerston yet, he left the door slightly ajar at the possibility of playing for Wanderers.
“My good friend Tyron Maher has played a big role in getting me to come up and play,” Betts said.
“But he’s gone from Palmerston to Wanderers and I’ve wanted to play with him because I’ve grown up with him.
“I’ve spoken to Aaron and Froggy (Alwyn) Davey and (coach) Josh Heath at Palmerston, but nothing is official yet.
“My main objective is coming up to work with the Indigenous communities.”
Whatever club he signs for, it is massive news for the Territory in what will be the biggest signing in NTFL history.
This was despite speculation on Wednesday this would not happen after the little champion was offered a role at Geelong Cats as the club’s development coach.
The three-time All Australian will not take up that role officially until January 17 next year, giving him plenty of time to play in the NTFL.
“It’s pretty high (the chance of playing for the Magpies),” Betts told the NT News.
“There’s no contract at the moment and no money.
“I’m not driven to come up and play for money – I just want to help the club develop and work with its younger players.”
Debate has raged over whether Betts would be allowed in to the Territory from Covid-hit Melbourne.
But he will quarantine at Howard Springs with his family for two weeks and – because he has worked lined up – has been given a special exemption to enter the region.
“I’ve spoken to (the CEO for the Northern Territory Department of Health) Frank Daly about coming up and working in Aboriginal communities around the Territory and educating kids.
“I’ve got a passion for going into these communities and educating them on the importance of literacy and numeracy, because the attendance rates at schools for Aboriginal children are low.
“Because to me, you’re a hero if you graduate from Year 12.
“I’ll be coming up with my family and we’ll all quarantine first.
“I’ll have to bring my footy boots with me.”
There was plenty of speculation that Cats legend Mathew Stokes had enticed Betts to sign on at Palmerston, with his father John being a Magpies legend.
The strong rumour was Betts was set to work for Stokes’ organisation AIME while in Darwin, mentoring young Indigenous people about making the right career choices.
But it was also announced on Wednesday that Betts is now an ambassador for Coles.
In this role he will help deliver and tailor the Coles Healthy Kicks program to Indigenous communities across Australia to help educate and motivate children aged between six and 12.
Betts will encourage these kids to become more physically active, eat nutritious food and develop a healthy mind and body while having fun with others.
He will carry out this work among remote Indigenous communities in the Territory as Coles’ ambassador.
Join the conversation
Named: The Territory footballers in 2025 AFL All Stars side
The 2025 Indigenous All Stars side is set to be littered with Territory talent with seven footballers from the NT earning a call up. Find out who here.
Read more
WPL WRAP: Premiers toppled as Tigers deliver 100-gamer a win
It was another exciting round of WPL action with a litany of post season defining results playing out across the competition. Read our Round 16 wrap here.
Read more