Collins, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Stadium, 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”.
Ian Collins gets a kick away for the Blues
Whereas Collins’s 161-game tenure encompassed 11 seasons, Eddie’s got there in eight, but as Collins observed: “I suppose the big thing is that they play a few more games now and I don’t think Eddie’s had the injuries I had”.
“I missed all of 1970 with a snapped achilles, I also got broken ribs and a punctured lung and missed six games, and then there were hamstring issues . . . I had more than my share of fair injuries but that’s life,” Collins said.
“I don’t think there’s anybody more worthy than taking over the mantle of No.19 for most games at Carlton and look forward to him getting to 200th.
Ian Collins
161 matches, 49 goals, 1961-1971
Premiership player 1968
Hall of Fame 2001
Eddie Betts
160* matches, 251 goals, 2005 -
Best First Year player 2005
Pre-season Premiership player 2007
Ian Collins’s senior debut, v St Kilda, Junction Oval - Round 1, 1961
Backs: Comben, Ferry, Silvagni
Half-backs: Williams, Crowe, James
Centres: Arch, Cox, Pavlou
Half-forwards: Collins, Lofts, McCulloch
Forwards: Sankey, Carroll, Cross
Followers: J. Nicholls (c), Barry, Brereton
Res: D. Nicholls, Heathcote
Coach: Ken Hands
Carlton 6.12 (48) defeated St Kilda 5.8 (38)
Eddie Betts senior debut, v Kangaroos, Etihad Stadium - Round 1, 2005
Backs: Carrazzo, Livingston, Morrell
Half-backs: Camporeale, Teague, Bannister
Centres: McGrath, Stevens, Sporn
Half-forwards: Davies, Whitnall, Lappin
Forwards: Houlihan, Fevola, Waite
Followers: French, Koutoufides (c), Scotland
Int: Prendergast, Walker, Betts, De Luca
Coach: Denis Pagan
Kangaroos 16.9 (105) def. Carlton 12.13 (85)
