Geelong has added one of the football’s most respected figures Eddie Betts to its coaching staff for 2022. Betts will join the Cats as a development coach after retiring following a brilliant playing career with Carlton and Adelaide.
“Eddie has seen the game from every angle, starting on the rookie list and growing into one of the game’s best and most influential figures,” Geelong’s general manager of football Simon Lloyd said.
“His knowledge, wisdom, leadership and experience will be a great asset for our team. Eddie is a great communicator and he is excited to work with our players, Chris and our coaching staff, and everyone involved with the club. We are equally excited that he has chosen to join our club.”
Betts is looking forward to starting his post-playing career with the Cats.
“I am really excited by the opportunity to work with Geelong,” Betts said.
“Geelong is a successful club with a magnificent culture that has always been consistently strong, and I cannot wait to get involved. I’m excited to support the club and I’m looking forward to being able to grow myself as well. Geelong is known for developing people and that is also an exciting element of joining the club.
“I’m looking forward to working with the playing list, in particular the younger players and helping them develop both on and off the field. It’s important for players to develop skills in all parts of your life. Obviously I will spend some time with the forwards, particularly the small forwards, but hope to get across all on-field spaces where the club see they need me.”
Betts enjoyed a 350 game career with Carlton and Adelaide. He ranks 19th in AFL games and his 640 goals rank 29th in history. He earned All Australian honours three times, won AFL goal of the year four times, had six seasons as his club’s leading goal kicker and retired as one of the most respected people in the game. Betts played 13 finals, including the 2017 Grand Final with the Crows.
Betts will begin his role, which is part time, at GMHBA Stadium on 17 January 2022.
