Why Eddie is happy to share goals at Crows

ADELAIDE star Eddie Betts has revealed why he likes to hand teammates their first AFL goal.

Betts gifted Hugh Greenwood and Jordan Gallucci their first majors on debut for Adelaide against Brisbane Lions last week when it would have been easier to kick the goals himself.

He short-passed to former basketballer Greenwood in the opening quarter and then gave a handball in the goal square to Gallucci in the final term.

“It was great to be involved in that,’’ said Betts, noting that kicking a first AFL goal is special.

“Hugh is a great story coming from basketball, and Jordan really wanted that goal; the quick little dude ran all the way down from half-back to kick the goal.’’

Betts said he clearly remembered his first sixpointer for Carlton, against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium in Round 1, 2005, and hoped Greenwood and Gallucci would have fond memories of theirs.

“I had to line up on Glen Archer, who had just been named ‘Shinboner of the Century’, and I was 18 and scared,’’ he said.

“I got the ball in the forward pocket and had a right-foot snap from the righthand side.

“I was a little fatty who weighed 83kg and now I’m 72kg. Most players start skinny and have to put weight on whereas I was already chubby and had to come down.’’

Betts has gone on to become one of the greatest small forwards, kicking 507 goals in 262 games.

He booted 290 goals in 184 games for Carlton before moving to Adelaide at the end of the 2013 season, where he has kicked 217 goals in only 78 matches.

Betts, 30, kicked a goal-ofthe-year contender against the Lions and is looking forward to shining in Indigenous Round against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval tomorrow night.

He said the top-of-the-table Crows must get back to playing their “way’’ after losing consecutive matches to North Melbourne and Melbourne before thumping the bottom-placed Lions at the Gabba.