In the 155-year history of the Carlton Football Club, Andrew Walker remains its only 200-game Indigenous footballer.

And yet Walker is of the view that his old mate in the No.19 guernsey will soon be sharing that revered distinction.

Andrew Walker was with Eddie Betts on the timber when the siren signalled Eddie’s senior debut in the opening round of 2005, against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

That was 15 seasons ago, and a lot of games ago. But for Walker, now head of Indigenous Programs and Employment for Ikon Services, the return of Eddie Betts – the ‘Official Giver of Joy’ of the Carlton Football Club - is a moment to truly treasure.

Eddie Betts is back with the Blues… and I’m really excited about that. I played a lot of footy with Eddie. He and I were part of that era with ‘Jeffy’ (Jeff Garlett) and ‘Yazz’ (Chris Yarran), and we created such a special bond with those boys because we were mentors to them.

I had such a great relationship with Eddie. Eddie came to a lot of my own family gatherings here in Echuca, and he had a really close relationship with my kids and my family. Eddie’s homecoming brings such a romantic end to his great career — and for Carlton supporters he brings back that real x-factor and excitement to our forward line.

I actually met Eddie just prior to him first joining the Club, funnily enough, at ‘Macca’s’ near Russell Street. A bloke pointed him out to me saying ‘That young bloke’s coming to Carlton’, so I went over, introduced myself and shook his hand. I reckon I knocked down a large McChicken meal that day and he went one better, and I still like to remind him that I took the leaner option.

I remember when Eddie first fronted up to training. I was mates with Brendan Fevola and we were just amazed with some of the things Eddie could do with ball in hand. For Eddie to come in as a rookie-listed player and impact that first season the way he did just showed the calibre of player he was.

My memory of Eddie’s first game is a little hazy, because I was named on the interchange. In those days the word ‘interchange’ still meant ‘bench’, and I was on it more often than not back then. From memory, Eddie’s first kick for Carlton was a goal — an unbelievable goal from just inside the 50. I remember watching the replay of that goal and hearing the commentators say how excited Carlton supporters should be about this player. David Teague also played in that game and isn’t it amazing to think that the relationship between ‘Teaguey’ and Eddie has developed over those years.

Carlton was super fortunate to get such a talented footballer in Eddie, and I suspect those in high places would probably now admit they didn’t appreciate the superstar he would come to be.

While that initial involvement with the Carlton family was always going to draw him back to the Club, Eddie went to Adelaide to be closer to his own family for a period of time.

I remember when he first played for Adelaide against Carlton. It was at the MCG,  I was playing across half-back and he was floating around the Crows’ forward line, which was scary. There was always a bit of white-line fever between players, but as soon as that final siren blew Eddie came over, dropped his head into my chest and hugged me. It was quite an emotional time. You could see that even though he’d left to be closer to his clan, he really was a Carlton man. I remember talking to my wife Kylie about it post-game. She told me she was watching it all pan out and that it brought a tear to her eye and my kids’ eyes: I think that I even shed a couple.

Eddie’s done stuff I’ve never seen anybody do on a football field, Indigenous or otherwise. He has that freakish ability to find the big sticks and I’ve never seen anybody do it on such a consistent basis over so many years. For somebody who’s bagged 600 goals over more than 300 games and averaged two goals a game having come into the system as a rookie is pretty special: you can just about guarantee that half of those 600 would have been bananas that most of us only dream of doing.

On a personal level, I consider myself grateful that I’ve been in the box seat to witness so many of those snaps.

Eddie is widely considered amongst the most loved of League footballers. He plays with personality and it’s what you see off the field also. He’s done a lot for the community, just as he’s done a lot for football and he’s such a loveable person.

Anyone with a bad word for Eddie doesn’t know him.

As it stands, Eddie has played 184 games for the Carlton Football Club. There is no doubt Carlton will look after his 33 year-old body when he gets to the Club, as I’m sure Eddie will do anyway – and I’ve got no doubt he’ll join me as a 200-game Indigenous player for Carlton.

That milestone will mean a lot to him because I know what it’s meant for me. I still talk at presentations about finding the resilience to withstand adversity at the elite level, and I often mention how incredibly proud I was to become Carlton’s first 200-game Indigenous player. That’s something I really hold dear to my heart and that my family is really proud of — I just know the effect that it will have on Eddie at Carlton, knowing that he did go back to repay the Club which gave him the opportunity.

Beyond the game, Eddie has the respect of the community to pursue a career as an Indigenous liaison officer. This is an area I’ve really became incredibly passionate about, in that it’s taken me to an area that’s seen me help Indigenous people with employment and be a mentor to them.

For the Carlton players of today, Eddie brings experience as a teacher: somebody who can really coach the players how to play forward at the elite level through his craft.

It really frustrates me when people starting talk about age, as some have done in this instance with Eddie. Age is just a number to me which for some reason becomes a barrier at AFL level, but have a look at the way Luke Hodge has left the game averaging 23 disposals in finals, most of them towards the latter stages of his career.

It’s only two seasons ago that Eddie booted 55 goals. Yes, he had a quiet 2019, but he remains an elite A-grader – a small forward who’ll still attract the best defender – and can you imagine what he’ll bring to the likes of Harry McKay, Charlie Curnow and Michael Gibbons in terms of forward craft, leading patterns, work-rate and what’s generally required to become an elite footballer?

This is such a smart move because what Eddie effectively offers is his influence as an elite forward and another coach to the Carlton forward make-up, and his presence creates competition for spots and ensures nobody becomes comfortable in their positions.

Since my retirement, I’ve brought my boys down from Echuca to see some Carlton games, and towards the end of the season just gone they got so passionate about how the boys were going. In fact, that genuine excitement came back, to the extent that the whole family couldn’t wait to pile into the car for the road trip to Melbourne to watch our Blue boys play.

But that’s reflective of the genuine excitement that exists across the board for where the team is heading, and I’m really pleased with the appointment of ‘Teaguey’ as coach because the players have responded to someone who understands the game and understands them just as much. The strength of David Teague is his connection with his players, for with that connection has come trust, and with trust comes more wins.

I see the No.19 is available again… well I reckon I’ll be wearing it on my back when I come down to Melbourne to see Eddie run out in it in Round 1.