ABC presenter Tony Armstrong gave a raw and emotional response on Friday morning to the shocking racial abuse shouted at the children of AFL legend Eddie Betts as they played basketball in his front yard.
A video posted online by former Carlton and Adelaide player Betts, who is Indigenous, shows a white car approaching his house before someone in the vehicle shouts the N-word four times.
Speaking on ABC News Breakfast, a clearly upset Armstrong, who is also Indigenous, said: “Eddie is a better man than me” at how calm his reaction had been.
“He came up and said he wants to talk to that person, what a star.”
As sports stars and politicians expressed their displeasure, Armstrong said he was “not surprised that this is happening… I’m more disappointed that people think this doesn’t happen, that this is something unexpected.”
ABC presenter Tony Armstrong has given a raw and emotional response to the shocking racial abuse shouted at AFL legend Eddie Betts’ children as they played basketball in his front yard. The Betts family in the photo.
‘As a black person in this country, you walk out the door and know that anything could happen based on the color of your skin, based on who you are as an Aboriginal person.
“(But) this is at the house… over the fence, and we saw the kids’ reaction, running inside,” Armstrong said.
He said he hoped Betts’ children “don’t have a lasting sense of PTSD from this, but unfortunately they probably will because it won’t be the only one they’re going to be subjected to. … I’m devastated.”
Armstrong noted that Betts has “taken his stand again” and that it could be a very different story if he had reacted differently.
‘What if Eddie heard them and chased them down the street, like almost any father would do if they were there to hear him? He would be the one who would end up being portrayed (in the media as) “Angry Eddie Betts.”‘
Betts wrote on Instagram that “Aboriginal children deserve to be able to play safely, free of racism and abuse over the fence.”
‘We are not even safe in our own homes. If you know who this is, please let me know I’m open to talking about how much this hurts our children.’
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and chief inclusion officer Tanya Hosch said the abuse shouted at Betts’ children has no place in sport or wider society.
“We must express our strongest condemnation against another example of overt racism, this time directed at children playing sports in their own front yard,” the couple said in a statement.
‘We recognize the leadership of Eddie Betts in bringing this to national attention. Racism is wrong. Racism is harmful. Racism requires a response.
“The AFL takes this opportunity to remind everyone at all levels of the game that racist behavior is never welcome.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan also condemned the incident and offered her support to Betts’ family.
“It’s sickening and disgusting that kids playing basketball in their own backyard have to be subjected to such disgusting racial abuse,” he said.
Tony Armstrong (pictured) said: “As a black person in this country, you walk out the door and know that anything can happen based on the color of your skin.”
Eddie Betts is pictured playing for the Adelaide Crows on May 11, 2019 in a match against Port Adelaide Power.
“(Eddie Betts) has been very vocal about his own personal experience with racism and has been a strong and proud Indigenous man.”
Michelle Ananda-Rajah, a Labor MP representing Higgins, in Melbourne’s south-east, said she had experienced similar situations.
“As a person of color, I’ve had to deal with this too,” she said. ‘Now I stare at the haters.
‘Children belong here, they make our community more vibrant and stronger. They shouldn’t be afraid to be here.’
In his weekly press conference on Friday morning, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said the attack made him angry and emotional.
“Obviously, as a club… everyone has put something in to express their support, love and concern for the Betts family,” he said.
‘Simply put, it makes my blood boil. Everyone feels the same. I hope everyone does.’
Eddie Betts’ children (pictured) were playing basketball when they were subjected to horrific racial abuse shouted from a passing car.
Betts retired from the AFL in 2021 after playing 350 games with Carlton and Adelaide.
He was repeatedly subjected to racist abuse throughout his career and had a banana thrown at him during a match at Adelaide Oval in 2016.
In his retirement announcement, Betts said he was tired of fighting racism and that the AFL was not a safe environment for Indigenous players.
Now 37, she has spoken publicly many times about the abuse she suffered and has previously implored Australians to help combat racism.