Former Carlton great Ian Collins swung past Visy Park today to congratulate the player now wearing his No. 19 guernsey.
 
Tomorrow night Eddie Betts will equal Ian’s record of 161st senior matches for the old dark Navy Blues.
 
Collins was Carlton President when Betts was taken with the club’s first round selection (selection three overall) in the 2005 pre-season draft.

In the years since, he has watched on with admiration as Betts embarked on his unique football journey, culminating in game No. 161 against Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night.

“I’ve been very interested because Eddie’s run around with my number and I think he’s been terrific,” Collins said.

“He reminds me a bit of Syd Jackson. Syd was a bit mad occasionally and he’d punch a few, but he had the same silky skills as Eddie and they were about the same height.”

Collins, a member of the drought-breaking Carlton premiership team of 1968, said he knew from the outset that Betts was blessed with rare football talent.

“I knew he had a lot of ability and he’d be a pretty good player,” he said. “History’s shown that he’s also been durable and his form’s been pretty consistent.”

It’s 51 years since Collins first broke the banner for his beloved Blues. Then a fresh-faced 18 year-old from Sale, he was one of three first-gamers named in the team confronting St Kilda at the Junction Oval. Last weekend it was Tom Bell, Levi Casboult and Frazer Dale. Back then it was Collins, Martin Cross and “Turkey” Tom Carroll, whose place in history is assured as Carlton’s inaugural Coleman Medallist.

Earning the fearsome St Kilda half-back flanker Eric Guy as his first opponent, Collins’ recollections of his maiden appearance are surprisingly vivid because, as he readily admits, “I kept out of his way”.