Police are investigating after the children of AFL great Eddie Betts were victims of a horrific racist attack while playing basketball in the backyard of their home.
CCTV footage shows a white car slowly driving past Betts’ home in Glen Iris before someone in the car shouts a racial slur four times at around 8.30pm on Thursday.
The images were shared by Betts, 37, on Instagram, who wrote: “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.’
The AFL, its clubs and players and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the disgraceful incident and pledged their support to the Betts family.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed they were investigating after receiving a report “in relation to verbal racial abuse towards children” at the Glen Iris home.
“It is alleged that a vehicle drove by the property shortly after 8.30pm and shouted from the windows before driving away,” police said in a statement.
“The matter is currently being investigated.”
AFL great Eddie Betts revealed his children received vile racist abuse in their own backyard
Police have urged anyone with information that could assist their investigation to come forward.
Betts, who played 350 games in a stellar career for Carlton and the Adelaide Crows, received widespread support after sharing video of the incident on his Instagram page.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and chief inclusion officer Tanya Hosch said this behavior 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,” they said in a statement Friday.
‘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.”
Messages of support for Betts and his family came from the world of football.
‘Shameful. Sending you love, Eddie,” declared the Western Bulldogs AFL club.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge further said the attack made him angry and emotional in his weekly press conference on Friday morning.
AFL great Eddie Betts (pictured last September) shared footage of the incident on his Instagram page on Thursday night, writing: “We’re not even safe in our own homes.”
“Obviously, as a club… everyone has put something in to express their support, love and concern for the Betts family,” Beveridge said.
‘Simply put, it makes my blood boil.
‘Everyone feels the same. I hope everyone does.’
Sports reporter Tony Armstrong, who played 35 AFL games for the Sydney Swans and Collingwood, was visibly upset as he reacted to footage from the ABC’s New Breakfast program on Friday morning.
Armstrong said he was “not surprised that this was happening… I’m more disappointed that people think this doesn’t happen, that this is something unexpected.”
“As a black person in this country, you walk out the door and you know that anything can happen based on the color of your skin, based on who you are as an Aboriginal person,” he said.
“(But) this is at the house… over the fence, and we saw the reaction of the children, running inside.”
Armstrong 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.”
Jacinta Allan said the incident was “disgusting” and offered her support to the Betts family.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan offered her support to the 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.
“(Betts) has been very vocal about his own personal experience with racism and has been a strong and proud Indigenous man.”
The AFL Players’ Association also offered its support, calling the incident “horrible”.
‘No one should ever have to experience this. We are with you Eddie,’ they wrote.
Tony Armstrong said on ABC’s New Breakfast: “As a black person in this country, you walk out the door and you know that anything can happen based on the color of your skin.”
Federal MP for Higgins, in Melbourne’s southeast, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, 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.’
Betts retired from the AFL in 2021 but said he He was repeatedly subjected to racist abuse online 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 declared the AFL was not a safe environment for Indigenous players.