Carlton forward Eddie Betts says he wants the public to see how he confronts racism, ahead of the full release of a documentary on the 2020 AFL season.
Vision of Blues assistant Andrew Russell confronting Betts over the mental aspect of his form slump has already caught the public’s attention.
Ahead of the full release of Making Their Mark on Amazon Prime on Friday, the 34-year-old detailed why he was inspired to feature in the series.
“I really wanted people to see what I go through. Just to know I’m normal like everyone else, and we’re a normal family,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“We may be crazy, but we’re pretty normal.”
Entering his 17th AFL season, Betts told Garry Lyon and Tim Watson that he was ready for the community to see what happens behind the scenes when he experiences racial discrimination.
“You know, I’ve been racially abused every year, (and) I was banking on getting racially abused again,” Betts explained.
“I just wanted people to understand and know what I go through, and how it affects me.
“As much as myself for my family as well, and how I deal with it.
“If you want to know how I deal with racism, that’s part of the documentary to come out.”
Betts said he “put a lot of thought” into the decision, with his family and with the club.
"(The producers) came to the club and approached me for the story of coming back to the Carlton Football Club," he recalled.
“(But) I know if I’ve got cameras following me around the football club and some of the boys don’t like it, then I won’t do it.
“I don’t want to make it awkward for the players.”
“We agreed as a whole it would probably be good for the football club, just to give an insight on one of the richest football clubs here in Australia.”
Making Their Mark is out today. It follows Betts, Rory Sloane, Stuart Dew, Nic Naitanui, Stephen Coniglio, the Richmond leadership and more.