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AFL star Eddie Betts will get his "fairytale ending" with a confirmed return to Carlton Football Club.
Key points:
- Eddie Betts kicked 310 of his 600 career goals for the Adelaide Crows
- He has signed for Carlton in exchange for a future fourth round pick
- Betts said his time at the Crows had been the "best and toughest" of his career
After weeks of speculation, the AFL today confirmed the star forward has signed a one-year deal with the club.
He will return to the Blues in exchange for a future fourth round pick, which will go to the Adelaide Crows.
Betts, 32, was contracted to the Crows until 2020, but in an interview earlier this year, said he would not guarantee that he would play with the team next year.
In a statement, the Adelaide Football Club thanked Betts for his "outstanding contribution" to the club over the past six years.
Betts said his time at the Crows had been some of the best and toughest of his football career.
"Thanks to everyone who has been a part of my journey in Adelaide and for welcoming my family and I with smiles everywhere we go," Betts said.
"The past six years have been some of the best and toughest of my football career, but I am proud of the person and leader I was able to become at the Crows."
Betts said he had developed many friendships at the Crows and was proud of the legacy he had left behind.
"I have developed so many important friendships with people here in Adelaide and there are lots of people to thank, such as my teammates and AFLW players, as well as the coaches, fans and supporter groups, staff and trainers," he said.
"Thanks also to the medical, welfare and high performance teams, and the club's Indigenous Liaison team of Jeremy Johncock and Uncle Eddie Hocking.
"I am proud of the legacy I will leave here for future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players and hope that the community we set for ourselves inside the club stays strong and connected."
Club says 'no-one will forget Eddie's Pocket'
Adelaide Crows list manager Justin Reid said Betts was a popular player at the club and he wished both him and his family all the best in the future.
"He has given our members and supporters so much to cheer about and produced some moments of absolute brilliance and no-one will ever forget 'Eddie's Pocket' at Adelaide Oval," Reid said.
"He has also opened up his home and helped encourage and guide the next generation of Indigenous players, while his work in the wider community has ensured he is a role model for all ages.
"Eddie, Anna and their children Lewis, Billy, Alice and Maggie will always be part of the Crows family and we wish them the very best with their move back to Victoria and for the years ahead."
'So grateful that I got to play with you'
Former Crows co-captain Taylor Walker, who will continue with the club in 2020, posted a farewell message to Betts on social media, saying their friendship would last forever.
Walker said he was lucky enough to have a front-row seat watching the "magician" go to work for the past six years.
"You're selfless, passionate and you have a huge heart and I am just so grateful that I got to play with you and experience some bloody good times," he said.
"My mum always said 'good things do come to an end' but our friendship will last forever.
"Anna, Lewie, Billy, Alice and Maggie enjoy the next chapter and love to you all."
Carlton welcomes Betts 'Back to the Future'
Meanwhile, Carlton Football Club has had a bit of fun with his return with a styled social media clip.
It features the star forward "returning" to the year 2020 in the DeLorean from Back to the Future.
In a statement, Carlton list manager Stephen Silvagni said Betts would provide invaluable leadership.
"Eddie has always had a place here at Ikon Park," he said.
"He will be able to add some real quality to our forward line and provide that energy which his teammates will thrive off.
"It is not just on-field with Eddie, it is the impact he can have on the playing group seven days a week, not just on game day."
He thanked the Adelaide Crows and said the club was pleased to have reached "a fair deal".
"The amount of experience Eddie has with regards to his preparation and what it takes to play at AFL level will only help to further the growth and development of our emerging playing group, which makes him a fantastic acquisition for our club," he said.
Topics: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000, melbourne-3000, west-lakes-5021, sa, carlton-3053, vic, australia
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