AFL Trade Daily: Eddie Betts returns to Carlton, rolling trade news from Monday, October 14, 2019

Eddie Betts has spoken openly about his emotional return to Carlton and why he can turn back the clock next year under David Teague. Betts also revealed the offers he knocked back from rival clubs. TRADE RECAP

Eddie Betts has backed in his tremendous reservoirs of self belief to turn back the clock at Carlton next year after taking a pay cut and ignoring rival two-season deals.

Betts today revealed he almost broke down in tears when he walked back into the Carlton Football Club.

Betts believes he is far from washed up, adamant he can be a force in Carlton’s forward line despite turning 33 next month.

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He said he believed he could find his best form again under David Teague after three All-Australian nods under him during Teague's time as an Adelaide forwards coach.

As revealed by the Herald Sun last week, he will be paid less than $500,000 on a one-year deal after ignoring the Suns’ more lucrative two-season offer.

Betts kicked 37 goals this season and despite flagging pressure numbers was a dynamic presence at Adelaide Oval with 73 total shots at goal.

Eddie Betts

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“It is mixed emotions. Good positive emotions. It has only just happened and we were talking about it for a little while but for it to finally happen, I was really emotional walking onto this ground that I left six years ago. I almost started crying, to be honest,” Betts said.

“I am a life member at the Carlton Football Club, and this club has always been in my heart and it’s a fairytale and homecoming as well.

“I think I have changed a lot, I am a better leader, going to Adelaide I thought my leadership really stood up and coming back here I believe I can still play some good footy.

"I am 32 but I believe I still have a lot to offer. It was the right time in my career to make the move back to Carlton where it all began.”

The deal is particularly low-risk because Carlton will hand over only a future fourth-round selection, which could be as late as 75 and would not be used by the Blues anyway.

Betts said he was offered a three-year deal at the Suns, while Gold Coast said their offer was only a two-year deal. Regardless, he will back himself in to extend his career past a single season at the Blues.

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Betts became one of Carlton’s great cult heroes of the modern era, kicking 290 goals in 184 games at the Blues before six seasons at Adelaide.

He set personal bests in Adelaide’s fitness testing at the start of 2019 and believes he can still compete in the modern game despite critics of his form.

“(Teague) is part of it, David came across to the Crows and he was our forward line coach and our offensive coach and the way he really shaped our ball movement, I played my best footy under David Teague and I can’t wait to reconnect and see what he is like as a senior coach,” Betts said.

Adelaide was happy to release him to complete his football fairytale, clearing around half a million dollars of cap space as the Crows overhaul their list.

If they move on Josh Jenkins alongside Sam Jacobs, Alex Keath, Betts, Hugh Greenwood and retirees Andy Otten and Richard Douglas, they can clear up to $2.5 million of cap space.

The Blues will lose back-up ruckman Andrew Phillips to Carlton but secure Hawthorn’s back-up Marc Pittonet.

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Originally published as AFL Trade Daily: Eddie Betts returns to Carlton, rolling trade news from Monday, October 14, 2019

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