Carlton coach Mick Malthouse and Eddie Betts after the talented small forward was made a life member with the Blues last night. Source: Herald Sun
CARLTON forward Eddie Betts has welcomed a no-tackling pre-season training policy designed to help avoid a repeat of last season's savage injury run.
Betts, who last night was made a Blues life member, praised the club for persevering with him despite some off-field setbacks.
He said he wanted to repay the club, declaring that under coach Mick Malthouse the Blues were capable of winning two premierships before he retired.
While tackling was a non-negotiable in-season, Betts said Malthouse had directed players to avoid heavy contact until the pre-season games began in February.
Betts said the strategy had left the players in their best physical condition.
"It's been pretty solid, training-wise, but Mick's a lot about getting everyone fresh and getting us all through pre-season not injured, (so) we don't tackle," Betts told the Herald Sun.
"If you want to play, you have to tackle (in games), he's certainly going down that line.
"(But) it's not worth training it (tackling) because it's a teammate and you play footy - you know how to tackle.
"Until January-February when we get into practice matches - that's when it will come out.
"Mick just wants everyone fresh because last year we had Waitey (Jarrad Waite) with a back injury; Luke Mitchell shoulder; Levi Casboult knee. Walks (Andrew Walker) did his ankle for the first four rounds last year, so we really had no talls.
"But everyone is holding up all right, and all the bodies are really fit and there is no injuries for the first time in a long time, which is really good."
Betts, 26, enjoyed a career-best season in 2012, kicking 48 goals and finishing second in the club's best-and-fairest award behind Heath Scotland.
He rated last night's honour as one of the highlights of his 166-game career, but said all the focus was on delivering on the team's potential under Malthouse next year.
With some experts questioning clubs' attitudes toward indigenous recruitment, Betts said he would be eternally grateful for Carlton's support.
"I thank them a lot. They did stick with me through a lot of stuff, being arrested in the last three years going out for some Christmas drinks, you learn a lot from that," he said.
"I was late for a few trainings down the track and they really stuck by me.
"It's pretty hard (at times). I've been here through two wooden spoons.
"Now we've built into a really good side and just sitting back watching last year in the Grand Final, you think, 'That could be us in the next couple of years'."
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