Eddie Betts has opened up his heart and his home to Charlie Cameron, but jokes there’s one thing he won’t share with his protégé – his pocket at Adelaide Oval.
Betts, who has been a mentor to Cameron since the pair arrived at Adelaide at the end of 2013, was full of praise for the 21-year-old after he kicked a career-best four goals in the Club’s 45-point win over Gold Coast.
The former rookie got the Crows going on Saturday afternoon, slotting two first-quarter goals and creating havoc for the Suns defence with his blistering speed and defensive pressure.
All four of Cameron’s goals were on the run, resulting from hard work and his ability to read the play and gather the loose ball under pressure.
“Charlie has been fantastic,” Betts said after the game.
“His work rate has been great. To get up the ground, reset and get back down to the forward line and put pressure on, he’s been really good.
“Hopefully, he continues that form because he’s really important for us.”
Cameron’s fourth goal was from a tight angle at the Southern End at Adelaide Oval.
The brilliant shot was reminiscent of one of Betts’ many unbelievable goals at the ground, but the 28-year-old warned Cameron not to get any ideas about repeating the effort at the opposite end.
“I said to Charlie, ‘You can have that pocket down there, just don’t come down to my pocket! You keep that one!’” Betts said with a laugh.
Interim Senior Coach Scott Camporeale also praised Cameron, adding that Betts deserved some of the credit for the Rising Star nominee’s rapid improvement.
“Charlie’s one who came into the Club and the boys took a real shine to him straight away. He’s a cheeky little bugger and we just love the way he goes about it,” Camporeale said.
“His forward pressure, tackling and just halving contests ahead of the ball is really important for us. Eddie’s done a lot of work with him and there’s no better mentor than Eddie Betts.
“Eddie should take a lot of heart in what he’s done with Charlie.”
Both Betts and Cameron have benefited from playing further up the ground at times this season.
Camporeale said the pair’s added flexibility had given the Crows a different dimension.
“Those guys with leg speed can get through the middle of the ground and sometimes you can catch the opposition out with those guys pressing forward,” Camporeale said.
“Playing as a small forward can be tough at times particularly if the ball’s not getting in there. Those guys get up there (into the midfield) and play as an extra midfielder.”
Adelaide had nine individual goalkickers against the Suns.
Betts (three) and Cameron (four) were two of the six Crows to kick multiple goals. Forwards Josh Jenkins (three) and Taylor Walker (two), and midfielders Richard Douglas (two) and Rory Sloane (two) were the others who were aided by some quick Crows ball movement.
Betts, who has kicked at least one goal in each of his games this season, said he was pleased to hit the scoreboard again.
“It was good to kick a couple of goals. It doesn’t really bother me though if other guys are kicking goals. As long as I’m putting pressure on and playing my role, I support the team,” he said.
“It’s good to have a variety of goalkickers. We handpassed a lot (at times), but we needed to get the ball deep inside forward 50m.
“We knew if the talls could create a contest, and the smalls could win it on ground level we’d have shots on goal, which we did.”
The win moved Adelaide’s into sixth place on the AFL ladder, pending the results of other games.
Betts said it was important the Club carried on the momentum.
“We want to play finals footy as a footy club. We’ve just got to keep doing the little things, the ground ball, tackles and those things and, hopefully, we can get the wins.”