Round 2, 2008

In an otherwise disappointing result for Carlton supporters against St Kilda, Blues livewire Eddie Betts put his own exclamation mark on the game with a spectacular goal deep into the final quarter. Eddie spoke to Mike and Dan about his early contender for the 2008 goal of the year and the mood in the Carlton camp ahead of clashes with two of Carlton’s fiercest rivals.

Eddie, Andrew Carrazzo’s pass to Fevola went over his head and the ball bounced towards the boundary line. Can you talk us through what happened from there?

• Laughs* the ball went through my legs at the start! I ran after the ball and then saw Schneider coming at me so I had a quick shot at goal. I was really surprised when it went in, but I do practice those shots at training so it was nice to get the goal. I didn’t want to celebrate too much though because it was right at the end of the game when we were getting beaten quite badly.

You actually won Goal of the Year in 2006. Are you getting mileage out of the weekend’s goal too amongst your teammates?

It is actually the other way around, they have been telling me all about it! They have been saying ‘mate, you’ve got the car in the bag’. But I keep telling them it is only round two and anything can happen between now and the end of the year.

It was great having the car to drive around for the year when I won the prize a couple of years ago, I am not sure what the prize is this year though but there is plenty of football to be played before all that happens.

It was one of the few highlights after what was a promising start to the game. What happened to the team after we kicked the first four goals?

We started off really well in the first quarter, then St Kilda seemed to get a run on towards the end of the first quarter and in the second quarter and we didn’t react too well and were second to the ball.

The wheels fell off in the second and third quarters, but then we did manage to kick six goals in the last quarter. We started to take them on a bit which is what we should have done for the whole game.

What role does the coach want you to fill this year? You mentioned to us in the past that you would like to spend some time in the midfield, is that on the cards for this year?

I want to get more into the midfield this year, and Ratts has said that I need to get fitter to get some game time there. I just need to keep working on the training track and performing in games.

There is a bit of competition in the middle with guys like Judd, Stevo, Murph, Gibbs, Carrazzo and Simmo so I just have to keep pushing myself and take every opportunity I can get.

Has there been a change in game plan over the summer, or is the coach sticking to the same plan that was used in the last 6 games of last year?

We are really trying to work harder and get some wins on the board. Ratts has still pretty much got the same philosophies as last year and he is the right person to bring us some success at the club.

We have seen a couple of new additions to the forward line this year in Edwards and Hartlett. Are you enjoying having another couple of targets up there that you can crumb from?

When I see Jake I tell him not to hang on to too many so that I get a chance to crumb around him! It is fantastic that he is getting a chance and doing well so far, he has been at the club for a while and is now showing us what he can do.

There was a lot of hype coming into the season, but that has been tempered with a couple of early losses. What can we realistically expect from Carlton this year?

Our goal every year is to strive to make the finals. We have been down a lot, and can’t go further down, but there is a lot of spirit about the club even though we are zero and two.

We need to go out and give one hundred percent each time. We also need to tailor our games depending on the opposition and give it our all, as well as getting fitter and working hard on our game plan.

My personal goals are to get everything out of every game that I play, to train hard and be the best player I can be.

You have been around the club a few years now and we have a group of younger players coming through. Are there any in particular whose progress you are monitoring, or giving a few tips to?

Yeah I chat with some of the boys, mainly like David Ellard and younger guys who play in my position. I have a talk to them, and help them if they have any questions.

I live with Joey Anderson and Clint Benjamin so I am always keeping an eye on them and telling them to work hard on the track.

We have got two of our most hated rivals coming up in the next two weeks in Essendon and Collingwood. Does the fact that they are traditional rivals change your preparation, or is your preparation the same as if you were playing Fremantle or Port Adelaide?

Yeah it is a bit different, we go into these games preparing like it’s a final as the build up is very intense and the crowd is so big. We have a big history and rivalry with these sides, and Essendon and Carlton hate each other and we do change our preparation to make the most of the situation.

I try to do the same things, eat the same food and prepare as I normally would. I really enjoy the big crowds and like the atmosphere. Once you get the momentum going you can hear the crowd roar, but out on the field you just want to concentrate on the game and get on with it.

Here is your chance to say a few words about your teammates. Is there anything we should know about them?

There are a couple of things about my housemates… Clint Benjamin is an absolute clean freak! The place will already be spotless and he will be going around cleaning things again. And he never spends time at home, he is always at the club, we joke that he should get a bed there as he never seems to be around!

Joey and I share all the cooking but Joey fancies himself as a bit of a ladies man.

Now entering his fourth season of AFL football and having passed 50 games, Eddie Betts is leading by example in his defensive play and harassment in the forward line, as well as showing Blues supporters that he has lost none of his trademark opportunism and dash around goals. With a much-publicized midfield that will lead to better delivery in the forward line, Betts will get more opportunities in 2008 to show us his exceptional goal-sense in tandem with the restructured Carlton forward line.