BETTS RACISM SLUR UNITES TEAMMATES
CARLTON coach David Teague has praised Eddie Betts for the “class” he has shown in handling the latest raciallymotivated attack directed at the veteran forward.
Teague said the Blues had rallied around Betts this week and vowed to do all they could to help educate and stamp out the unacceptable racial abuse.
Betts was the target of an offensive social media post last weekend picturing a chimpanzee alongside a reference to the Blues’ small forward, with the 33-year-old quick to call-out the disgusting behaviour.
Teague said he could not be more impressed with the way
Betts had handled the latest attack and continued to educate everyone at the club.
“Eddie has been through this a lot, unfortunately, but what we have seen is how well he handles it, the class,”
Teague said.
“He has taught us as coaches and as a playing group, he has done some education with us throughout the whole preseason, but these examples show what sort of a human being he is.
“He has been super impressive, as was Sam Docherty in the way that he spoke about it. I probably couldn’t put it into the words that Sam did.
“The way the guys keep asking questions and wanting to learn more about their culture is something that I am really proud of this group.”
Teague said the best way the club could support Betts was to listen.
“You listen to him and you try and help him when he needs it and to be honest I don’t know what help he always needs,” Teague said.
“I haven’t lived in those shoes, I haven’t been through what he has been through.
“So it is hard for me to sit there and say do this or do that because I just do not know.
“What I do know is not only the players, but this football club have really got behind Eddie and they have said that we are going to support you and we believe strongly in this matter.
“My conversations with Eddie and the other boys is they know that this club wants to stamp this out and it’s unacceptable and as a football club we will do what we need to do support our players.”
The social media attack on Betts came on a weekend when AFL players took a knee on the field before games in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Teague said he would be driven by the players as to whether they made a similar statement again this weekend.
“Haven’t got to any discussions around that yet, but to be honest I’ll be guided by the players,” he said.
“If the players are keen to do it, if they believe strongly or if they believe it’s been covered, I’ll be guided a lot by our playing group.”