Cats job purrfect for Betts’ passion

NEW Geelong development coach Eddie Betts says he knocked back a role at his former club Carlton because he had a passion and desire to stay in football.

Betts had long been linked to a position with the Blues post-retirement, but the offer that came from Carlton was for a job in the commercial and marketing space.

When the Cats touched base to sound out the champion small forward’s interest in a development role in their football department, Betts said could not resist.

“There was an offer at the Carlton Football Club, a club that I love dearly, and part of that role was working in commercial and marketing upstairs which is something I would have loved to do,” Betts said.

“But my passion is football and working with a younger group and being connected in the football program.

“This role came up at Geelong and they got in contact with me and said ‘listen we can offer you a job within the football as a development coach part-time working with the players and particularly the small forwards’ and it was something I was excited to pursue.

“I was pretty sad not to get that role at the Carlton Football Club … but they have a lot going on bringing in a new coach, a new CEO and assistant coaches so this fitted in perfectly.”