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The Boy from Boomerang Crescent

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The Boy from Boomerang Crescent

By: Eddie Betts
Narrated by: Luke Carroll
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About this listen

 It’s a long, hard road from the Nullarbor to the MCG.

Winner of the Australian Book Industry Awards, Social Impact Book of the Year
Longlisted for the 2023 Indie Book Awards
Sydney Morning Herald Best Reads of the Year for 2023

How does a self-described ‘skinny Aboriginal kid’ overcome a legacy of family tragedy to become an AFL legend? One thing’s for sure: it’s not easy. But then, there’s always been something special about Eddie Betts.

Betts grew up in Port Lincoln and Kalgoorlie, in environments where the destructive legacies of colonialism – racism, police targeting of Aboriginal people, drug and alcohol misuse, family violence – were sadly normalised. His childhood was defined by family closeness as well as family strife, plus a wonderful freedom that he and his cousins exploited to the full – for better and for worse.

When he made the decision to take his talents across the Nullarbor to Melbourne to chase his footballing dreams – homesickness be damned – everything changed. Over the ensuing years, Betts became a true giant of the sport: 350-plus games, 600-plus goals, multiple All-Australian nods and Goal of the Year awards, and a league-wide popularity rarely seen in the hyper-tribal AFL.

Along the way, he battled his demons before his turbulent youth settled into responsible maturity. Today, the man the Melbourne tabloids once dubbed ‘bad boy Betts’ is a dedicated husband and father, a respected community leader and an increasingly outspoken social activist.

Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic and always honest – often laceratingly so – The Boy from Boomerang Crescent is the inspirational life story of a champion, in his own words. Whether he’s narrating one of his trademark gravity-defying goals from the pocket, the discrimination he’s faced as an Aboriginal person or the birth of his first child, Betts’s voice – intelligent, soulful, unpretentious – rings through on every page.

The very human story behind the plaudits is one that will surprise, move and inspire.

Cover image © Kristina Wild Sports Inspiring Funny Thought-Provoking

Critic Reviews

'a generous and heart-felt window into football and Aboriginal identity' (Anna Clark)
‘What emerges from a full reading of The Boy From Boomerang Crescent is much more than Betts as whistleblower. It is Betts as heir and successor to Michael Long, Nicky Winmar and Adam Goodes as the most important Indigenous voice in footy today.’
'Eddie Betts never won a flag, never won a Brownlow, and never won a best and fairest. But he stands as tall as any of them. Few sportspeople have overcome more, taught us more, and brought us more joy.'
All stars
Most relevant
Great listen and a really deep insight into what Eddie has overcome but also achieved in his amazing career.

Loved it

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I heard Eddie Betts talk about the 2018 Crows preseason camp on Fox Footy's AFL 360, hosted by Gerard Wakeley with Mark Robertson. The enquiry found no laws had been broken and no charges laid. The fact many things done during the camp were flaunting Aboriginal customs, the dream time and having Eddie Betts things he told in confidence shared without his consent, is shameful and so disrespectful to Eddie, his family and of course Aboriginal Culture.
Now the AFL is to hold an "open enquiry " into allegations of racism at the Hawthorn football club, where they will only look at the incidents reported and not systemic racism, is a white wash.
I have lost faith in anything the AFL does and have come to a point where I no longer feel like watching the game.
I am a Swans supporter and we know what happened with Adam Goodes! Forced out of the game due to racism and doesn't even attend games. It was nice to see him at the SCG for the Swans Legends walk around the oval prior to the Round 22 game v Collingwood.
This is not a review of only Eddie's book but also of the AFL Industry itself.
The more things change the more they stay the same for First Nations People and sport in general.
Thanks Eddie for telling us what it is like to be a First Nations person in elite sport and all the racial slurs you and all minorities have to deal with.

Great Yarn!

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Incredible story of resilience from a humble human being. I had tears (struck from anger and sadness) to gasps of incredulity at the behaviour of others he had to endure and at other times out loud laughter.

Took a minute to get used to the narrator

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This book made me laugh, and cry. As a Carlton member I have always had an admiration of Eddie and I appreciate him sharing his story with us all.

Parts of his book have come as news to everyone and I saddened to realise that it has taken so long for him to feel safe, to reveal those truths to the public.

This book illustrates just how far white/colonial Australia still has to go, to bridge the gap between them and Indigenous Australians.

I truly envy the connection and community that indigenous people have; they seem to understand what's important in life.

Thank you for continuing to educate us Eddie, even when that means using up your time and emotional energy. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

An important story

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Real insight into Eddie's life in and outside footy. What a positive model for the game and his people. Loved it, including the more unsavoury aspects of AFL's winning culture.

Eddie Betts' fine story

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