Geelong has secured a major coup, with recently-retired Carlton great Eddie Betts joining the club in a coaching role and the move is seemingly already providing dividends.
Betts called time on a glittering 350-game career with both the Blues and Adelaide at the end of the season and has wasted no time getting into the coaching ranks.
LIVE UPDATES: Finlayson joins Port Adelaide on three-year deal
The 34-year-old will undertake a development role on Chris Scott’s staff in a period of transition that has seen former assistants Matthew Scarlett and Corey Enright depart in recent weeks.
“I am really excited by the opportunity to work with Geelong,” Betts said in a club statement.
“Geelong is a successful club with a magnificent culture that has always been consistently strong, and I cannot wait to get involved. I’m excited to support the club and I’m looking forward to being able to grow myself as well. Geelong is known for developing people and that is also an exciting element of joining the club.
“I’m looking forward to working with the playing list, in particular the younger players and helping them develop both on and off the field. It’s important for players to develop skills in all parts of your life. Obviously I will spend some time with the forwards, particularly the small forwards, but hope to get across all on-field spaces where the club see they need me.”
Betts’ addition could also bring an immediate impact to Geelong’s playing list with Cats list manager Stephen Wells confirming the club was interested in talented young forward Tyson Stengle.
Stengle, who had his Adelaide contract torn up earlier in 2021, has excelled playing for Woodville West Torrens in the SANFL and has a number of clubs keen to sign him up.
The 22-year-old is understood to have a close connection to Betts from the pair’s time together in Adelaide and could potentially even stay with Betts if he is to move to Geelong.
READ MORE: Melbourne Storm trio ‘lucky’ to escape with lenient sanctions, says Gallen
“We do have some interest in Tyson and he’s very lucky he’s got a man like Eddie in his corner,” Wells told SEN on Wednesday morning.
“We think he’s had a terrific period with Woodville-West Torrens, in a premiership team.
“We do have some interest in Tyson. We haven’t committed to him yet, it’s not just us who want him. He’ll have to make that decision himself.”
It remains to be seen whether the presence of Betts will be enough to push the Stengle deal over the line, with Essendon also interested in adding him to its young list.
READ MORE: Brazilian football player arrested for kicking referee in head
Betts has served as an important mentor for young players across the league throughout his playing career and is considered to be one of the most widely-respected individuals in the competition.
Betts is the second Indigenous former player to be snapped up in a coaching role after Collingwood added former Melbourne defender Neville Jetta to its own staff this week.