An Adelaide Football Club contingent led by Eddie Betts is helping rebuild cyclone-ravaged Fiji.
Betts, along with fellow players Jake Lever and Hugh Greenwood, as well as coaches Matthew Clarke and Tate Kaesler and their partners and families have spent the past week on the South Pacific island on a community trip.
Cyclone Winston was a devastating storm that struck Fiji in February, 2016.
More than 40 people died when Cyclone Winston, the most powerful storm to make landfall in the southern hemisphere, smashed schools, houses, churches, roads and crops.
Betts and his wife Anna had visited Fiji last year and were devastated when they found out about the widespread destruction the cyclone caused.
The Betts family wanted to do something to help, so with the support of the Club and the Crows Children’s Foundation they organised the group of players, coaches and family to make the trip over.
As part of the week-long visit, Adelaide representatives have spent two days helping rebuild the Conua Kindergarten near Sigatoka as well as run football clinics for local children.
Eddie Betts described the trip was very rewarding and said the Crows contingent was just happy to help out.
“It’s been fantastic, it’s been a unique experience that I will never forget and neither will the others,” Betts said.
“Just to see the smiles on these little kids’ faces and not just the kids, the adults as well.”
The group also took time out to visit Club apparel sponsor BLK’s factory in Lautoka, which was also affected by the cyclone, where they could meet staff and witness a Crows jumper being made.
The trip culminates on Saturday with a Festival of Footy in the country’s capital city Suva, where Crows players and coaches will help AFL Fiji run a super clinic and conduct their national trials.