Kuwarna teams up with Betts

Kuwarna is teaming up with one of its greatest ever forwards and most popular players, Eddie Betts, for a special celebration of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

Betts is coming back to Adelaide Oval – where he wowed Kuwarna fans with 174 magical goals from 2014 to 2019 – but this time with his own foundation for a curtain-raiser before the Club hosts West Coast in Round 11 on Sunday, May 25.

The Eddie Betts Foundation (EBF) Youth Talent Academy will play against students from Sports College SA, which is a partner of Kuwarna’s community programs, in a Showcase Game.

The game forms a key part of the Club’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round plans which has again seen it change its name to Kuwarna – the Kaurna translation for the word Crows – for the fortnight marking the AFL’s Indigenous Round.

The Club is continually looking at ways to strengthen its connection with past players and the Showcase Game amplifies the work of the Eddie Betts Foundation while aligning with its own existing community programs.

Kuwarna CEO Tim Silvers said the values and objectives of the Eddie Betts Foundation align with the Club’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation through its Stretch RAP.

“Not only is Eddie a much loved and celebrated former player, he is widely respected and admired for the work he does for Aboriginal youth and in the broader football community,” Silvers said.

“We want as many footy fans as possible to get along to the game and support the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander football talent, who will showcase their skills.”

The Eddie Betts Foundation is an Aboriginal-led not-for-profit organisation that empowers Aboriginal youth through sport, education and employment by helping to remove barriers to success and participation. It focuses on using sport as a tool for building skills, confidence and community connections and directly reaches more than 22 remote and regional communities nationally.

​The EBF Youth Talent Academy is a high-performance academy that identifies and develops promising Aboriginal male AFL players aged 14 to 17 from communities nationwide. The program combines leadership, elite athletic training and mentorship with a supportive environment that fosters peer learning and positive role models.

The EBF Youth Talent Academy currently includes Oakleigh Chargers Under 18s players Boyden George (EBF Academy Captain), Leo Gilla, and Shaq Cox, with Gary Lawford (Oakleigh Chargers Under 16s Futures Squad) and Oscar Fatnowna (Geelong Falcons Futures Squad).

”Returning to Adelaide Oval with the Eddie Betts Foundation Youth Talent Academy is a special experience, Adelaide holds cherished memories for my family and me,” Betts said.

“Having gained so much from football, I want to leave a legacy that’s built on giving, opening doors, building bridges, and creating a future where our young ones can thrive.

“The young people in our Academy are not only talented footballers but also strong leaders within their communities, and this shows through their dedication and commitment to the program.

“The opportunity to play a match before an AFL game allows them to immerse themselves in an elite environment and experience the atmosphere of Adelaide Oval.

“We are proud to come together with the Adelaide Football Club for this occasion, in creating opportunities through our shared love of footy.”

The match will start at 10:30 am before Kuwarna takes on West Coast at 12.40pm. Gates open at 10.30am.

There will also be Indigenous artists performing on game day and market stalls showcasing Indigenous culture, art work and food in Adelaide Oval’s southern plaza.

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