Crows aim to hold on to Eddie
ADELAIDE’S week from hell has Crows fans coming to terms with the looming possibility Eddie Betts will leave the crisis-stricken club.
Asked about a report that has him returning to Carlton, Betts’ response was he was contracted for next season.
Still five weeks out from the start of the trade period, speculation about the goalsneak’s future has reached fever pitch.
“What article is it? There have been plenty, haven’t there,” Betts said yesterday.
He did say on Thursday that Gold Coast was interested, citing a potential package deal that would also involve Hawthorn veteran Shaun Burgoyne heading north.
But for now, Adelaide says Betts is staying put.
Football manager Brett Burton said his season exit interview went well this week.
“We haven’t heard anything different, he had a really good exit meeting with the coaches on Wednesday and that was all positive,” Burton said. “He said he was looking forward to playing on (with Adelaide) next year.”
But the football boss also acknowledged that given what could happen in the trade period, Betts’ football future was far from confirmed.
Burton was asked what would happen if Betts asked for a trade.
“We’d assess that. Obviously we love Eddie and love what he brings to the team and the town,” he said. “We contracted him for a reason, because we want him to be here next year.”
The small forward has played 316 games for Carlton and Adelaide.
Meanwhile, there was some positive news for the Crows yesterday, with two AFL heavy hitters joining the external panel that will review the club.
Jason Dunstall will chair the committee and former Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich will also be involved.
The review is expected to take several weeks.