A decade and a half on from his debut at the top level, Carlton and Adelaide champion Eddie Betts will debut in the Top End this weekend.
Betts signed with the Palmerston Magpies in mid-October, but his Northern Territory Football League cameo was delayed when Darwin was placed under a ‘lockout’ in response to an outbreak of COVID-19.
The restrictions saw travel in and out of the city limited, and required unvaccinated people to live under lockdown conditions.
With the lockout having since been lifted, the 34-year-old will finally suit up for the Magpies in their meeting with Nightcliff on Saturday.
Palmerston coach Josh Heath says Betts’ presence has enraptured the players.
“He’s part of our coaching group now, adding his value at training and one-on-one with the players,” Heath explained to SEN Breakfast.
“He sits in the background a little bit, he doesn’t want to overwhelm everything, but with anything he says, everyone’s eyes light up and everyone’s listening.
“Hopefully he gets his hands on it and kicks a few from the pocket.”
The match indeed promises high scoring; Betts will line up next to former AFL forward Alwyn Davey, who played 100 games and kicked 120 goals for Essendon from 2007 to 2013.
“We’re hoping to get a bumper crowd out there, it’s our home ground and we’ve got some really good facilities out at Palmerston,” Heath went on.
“We’re hoping to get a couple of thousand out there, that would be fantastic for everyone.”
Davey’s elder brother Aaron, who played 178 games with Melbourne and won a best-and-fairest in 2009, is also listed with the Magpies but is unavailable for the game.
The Northern Territory is a popular destination for former AFL players.
Raphael Clarke, who played 85 games with St Kilda from 2004 to 2012, plays with St Mary’s, as does former Giant, Bomber and Swan Shaun Edwards.
One-time Port Adelaide cult figure John Butcher has won three premierships with Nightcliff, where ex-Fremantle defender Ryan Nyhuis has also made a home.
Dual premiership Geelong defender Harry Taylor will suit up for Southern Districts, Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan will line up for Waratah in December, while ex-North Melbourne forward Matt Campbell plays with the Darwin Buffaloes.
Heath believes with more investment in Top End football, we could see many more players go in the other direction.
“I’ve worked with the national academies for many years now, and there is so much untapped talent up here,” he enthused.
“If we could get an AFL club running out of the Northern Territory you would see so much more talent like Cyril Rioli, Michael Long and (Michael) ‘Magic’ McLean in the AFL.
“It’s there, but it’s now about trying to foster that and bring it through… it would be fantastic for the whole league.”
Betts and Palmerston will confront Nightcliff at Cazaly’s Arena on Saturday from 8:30pm (AEDT).
SEN Top End Footy can be heard on across the SEN network and on the SEN app.