Adelaide is proud to host its second Indigenous Round home fixture this Saturday night against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval, thanks to The Maxima Group.
To commemorate the event, afc.com.au caught up with Crows forward Eddie Betts to discuss his rich family heritage, his unique road to AFL football and the significance of Indigenous Round.
“I was born in Port Lincoln. My Dad’s from Port Lincoln and he’s a Nunga. My Mum’s from Western Australia in Kalgoorlie and she’s a Gubrun. They split up when I was two. I grew up more-so with my Mother and her family are still over in WA. I shifted back and forth with my Dad in Port Lincoln.
“Then I shifted to Melbourne and had a little boy, Lewis, and because he was born in Melbourne he’s a little Koorie. There’s all different types of Tribes.
“My second son Billy is a Nunga. He was born here in South Australian, so he’s a Nunga. My partner Anna is a Gubrun. She spent more time with my Mum’s family, so we’ll say she’s a Gubrun.
“My role model is this guy sitting right here. Because I was born in Port Lincoln, I grew up barracking for the Adelaide Crows and No.23 was my favourite number. I’ve still got a little article at home from when I was 13 years old and it says ‘Who’s your favourite player? And who do you barrack for?’ and it says ‘Adelaide Crows – Andrew McLeod’.
“And now, to be sitting here with him, it’s a dream come true really.
Indigenous Round: McLeod’s story
“Sport to me was basically everything. I didn’t really have an education. I didn’t go to school. I couldn’t read and I couldn’t write. I was lucky enough to get drafted to Carlton in the pre-season draft and the three years of my AFL career I did literacy and numeracy classes because I still couldn’t read or write and I didn’t know what I was signing.
“But that’s what I tell young kids when I go out to communities and do the mentoring course, I tell them my story and tell them that education is more important than sport at this time.
“But in saying that, I think sport really saved my life.
“It is a special moment. For me growing up watching Andrew McLeod play, I wanted to be Andrew McLeod and I wanted to do everything Andrew McLeod did. I wanted to play footy.
“It’s an important round, not just for Indigenous kids but non-Indigenous kids too to learn about our culture as well. It’s fantastic.
“I think it makes it a lot easier too with Andrew based at the Club as well for young Indigenous kids coming into the Adelaide Football Club. Having Andrew at the Club made it a lot for comfortable for not just me but for Cam (Ellis-Yolmen), Charlie (Cameron) and ‘Willo’ (Anthony Wilson) as well.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a massive game at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night against Fremantle. They’re on top of the ladder so it’s going to be a tough game for us.
“But what a way to celebrate Indigenous Round by hopefully getting a win against the top side.”
