Renowned for his breathtaking goals, unmatched charisma and ability to pull off the unthinkable, there is no footballer past or present that can entertain like Eddie Betts.
And while the 350-game AFL legend is used to wowing crowds at the MCG and Adelaide Oval, he traded the bright lights of the national stage for Mercury Drive and fans of the Goulburn Valley.
Lining up for Rumbalara in its round four Murray League clash against Deniliquin Rams, hundreds were on hand to watch the mercurial small forward ply his trade.
Unfortunately for the home side, they weren’t quite good enough on the day — falling to a slick Rams outfit by 59 points — but that didn’t dampen the spirit of Betts who said he thoroughly enjoyed the day.
“It was hard, I haven’t actually played a game since January so it was good to go out for a run,” Betts said.
“Seeing all the young kids with their footy jumpers smiling and cheering us on was great, to get out of the house and enjoy the local footy on a beautiful Saturday afternoon was brilliant.”
“It is just disappointing we couldn’t get the win for the crowd here at Rumbalara, but overall I had a lot of fun being back out there.”
Playing at full forward for most of the afternoon, Betts put on a show for the Rumba crowd, kicking two goals and reeling down an incredible hanger in trademark Eddie style.
“The standard of footy up here was really good, the skills were very good and the players on both teams were very fit,” Betts said.
“(With the mark) I just had a fly at it and I was lucky enough for it to come down, I tried another one in the last quarter that didn’t come off, but that one in the third was a cool ride.”
With grassroots football in Victoria undergoing immense challenges over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Betts said he jumped at the chance to come to Shepparton and play with Rumbalara.
“I was always going to come up (at some point this year), I’ve been talking to Paul Briggs and just said I wanted to give back to grassroots footy,” he said.
“My job is to get out to communities, to use my voice, help stamp out racism and educate young Aboriginal kids, so I love getting the opportunity to do things like this and I can’t thank Rumba enough for having me today.
“I found the passion and love footy playing for Palmerston in Darwin, the community feel, the deep heat, the kids running around like crazy, for me and my family to come up here, we had a blast.”
As for if he will make a return to the Rumba side this year, Betts said he wouldn’t be ruling it out.
“You never know,” he said.
“I’m coaching down with Geelong and am also working at Fox Footy commentating the games as well, while my kids also play footy on Sunday so it is hard to find time.
“But if I find another Saturday that’s free I might come back up and have another run.”