The Carlton Football Club still holds a very special place in Eddie Betts’ heart, and the champion small forward intends to honour the Blues in his 300th AFL game this Sunday.

Betts will run out onto Adelaide Oval for his milestone game with his four children by his side; sons Lewis, 6, and Billy, 4, and one-year-old twin daughters Alice and Maggie.

 

Betts' daughters will pay homage to the two clubs he represented at AFL level, with Maggie set to wear Carlton’s iconic navy blue guernsey to commemorate her father’s time at Princes Park.

The guernsey will be customised with the number 184 on the back to represent each of Betts’ appearances for the Blues, while Alice will wear an equivalent Crows version.

“I’ve got a Carlton jersey for Maggie. She’s gonna wear a Carlton jersey out, just with the numbers on the back that represent how many games I played for the Carlton Football Club,” Betts told AFC Media

“Alice will have a Crows jersey on and how many games I’ve played for the Crows. So combined, 300.

I thought it was right to do that with the Carlton Football Club, obviously I’m a Life Member and just to show how many games I played with the Carlton Football Club and how many games I’ve played with the Adelaide Football Club.

After being overlooked in the National Draft, Betts was offered a lifeline by the Blues when he was picked up with selection No.3 in the 2004 Pre-Season Draft.

The 32-year-old spent nine seasons with Carlton, turning his life around while forming several everlasting friendships.

“I’ve still got a lot of close friends. I’m pretty close with the cheer squad,” he said. 

It’s fantastic to go play against Carlton where you think they’ll boo you but they’re actually chanting my name.

“After every game I’d go down to the Carlton end and give them a hug and kiss. I know most of the cheer squad and then I’ll go to the Crows end and give the Crows cheer squad a hug and a kiss. 

“It’s kinda weird playing in one game where both cheer squads really like you. 

“I remember the last game I played, at the end of last year, they were chanting ‘Come back, Eddie’.

“I’m like ‘I can’t, I’m sorry, I’ve got two more years on my contract. I’m playing for the Crows’.”

The Carlton cheer squad won’t be the only Blues link to Betts on Easter Sunday, with his ex-Blues teammates Mitch Robinson and Jeff Garlett set to attend the milestone game.