Early Life
Betts grew up with his mother in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and played junior football for the Mines Rovers Football Club. At age 15, Betts had intended to move to Port Lincoln with his father to continue playing junior football there. However, he getting into trouble off the field, including smoking, drinking, drugs and truancy. As a result, his mother arranged for Betts to instead move to Melbourne, under a program run by indigenous former footballer Phil Krakouer.
In Melbourne, Betts played colts football for Templestowe, where he won the EFL Division 3 league best and fairest in 2002, and TAC Cup football for the Calder Cannons. He represented Vic Metro as a 16 year old in the 2003 AFL National Under 18 Championships and was selected in the Under 18 All-Australian team that season. He was too young to be selected in the AFL Draft at the end of 2003, and he played another season with the Cannons, but was hindered by osteitis pubis. He was overlooked in the 2004 National Draft as a result.
Read more about this topic: Eddie Betts
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