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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
A must read for football fans and non footy folk alike. Eddie doesn’t sugar coat his background. Tells it as he sees it, and is every bit the amazing human I already believed him to be. I absolutely loved this!
Great reading by Luke Carroll too

Outstanding!

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A truly inspirational man, loved hearing the authentic way Eddie describes his life, and I have learnt much about his ‘mob’ and their culture from this book, which has opened my eyes and views .. which I feel is partly why he wrote the book, so thanks Eddie for sharing your journey and the life lessons, as well as the education on indigenous life.

Enlightening

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I loved this book I highly recommend it. Eddie is an amazing bloke and a great leader and mentor.

Best book ever

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Never knew a lot about Eddie, just he was an extraordinary talent. Now I get a feel and a ton of respect for the man behind the story. Bravo Eddie, keep living life the way you do

Role model

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Eddie Betts story was wonderful to listen to. I felt the highs and lows of his experiences and learnt a lot about his lived experiences of racism. I loved this book.

Intriguing

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So good to hear how having a voice benefits friends family and the wider community.. excellent read, best wishes and thank you Eddie and family.

Strong story strong family strong words.

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Eddie tells the tail of his life as if you’re sitting with him. Laughter and sadness, anger and hope all shared with his wonderful optimism and laid back personality. He educates us in what being a contemporary Australian black fella is like without pointing fingers or pulling punches. The boy from Boomerang Cresent is a national treasure!

Honesty and openness

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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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