Ex-AFL star Eddie Betts stuns footy fans as he turns out for bush footy side

Former Carlton and Adelaide AFL forward Eddie Betts made a remarkable return to the footy field on Saturday – stunning locals after taking a classic hanger in a country game that reminded fans of his playing days. 

The 350-game veteran was asked by the Indigenous Rumbalara footy club in Shepparton, 190km north of Melbourne, to don the boots and help inspire the team to their first win this season. 

Rumbalara lost 50-121, with Betts kicking two goals and six behinds in his first action since calling it quits on his AFL career last year. 

Betts, 35, set out to prove Geelong goal sneak Tyson Stengle wrong after he taunted the retired star by telling him he was too old to contest in the air.

The video from Twitter shows Betts did just that when he anticipated a kick and soared high above the Deniliquin Rams defence. 

Eddie Betts is pictured soaring above the Deniliquin Rams defence and taking a terrific speccy in his bush footy return at Shepparton on Saturday

Betts said he was quick to shoot Stengle the footage and remind him age as just a number.

‘Someone was filming and then I said, ‘I’ll go for the hanger, I’ll see what I can do,’ Betts told the Herald Sun.

‘Before that Tyson Stengle actually said to me, because he comes to our home a lot, ‘You’re too old to go jumping around.’

‘And once I took that one I sent it straight to him and said, “That’s for you buddy.”‘

Shepparton News reporter Zac Standish tweeted, ‘Eddie Betts has just taken one of the best marks I’ve seen in local footy – magician.’ 

Betts (centre) was glad that his presence could inspire the Rumbalara Indigenous sport community

Eddie Betts celebrates after scoring a goal in the final game of his 350-cap AFL career for the Crows and Blues

Murray Football League general manager Dale Norman said Betts’ star turn gave the community a huge lift. 

‘The crowd is screaming through and they seem thrilled,’ Mr Norman said.

‘I give big credit to Rumbalara coach Dwayne Atkinson on bringing Betts on board.

‘Everyone is smiling. Betts is the king of the kids.’

Betts said he was happy to give back to grassroots footy, especially for Rumbalara.

‘My job is to get out to communities, to use my voice, help stamp out racism and educate young Aboriginal kids, so I love getting the opportunity to do things like this,’ Betts told the local Shepparton News.