The Boy from Boomerang Crescent
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The Boy from Boomerang Crescent
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Narrated by:
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Luke Carroll
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By:
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Eddie Betts
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 throughout the audio.
The very human story behind the plaudits is one that will surprise, move and inspire.
Cover image © Kristina Wild
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2021 Eddie Betts (P)2021 Simon & Schuster AustraliaCritic Reviews
"a generous and heart-felt window into football and Aboriginal identity." (Anna Clark)
What listeners say about The Boy from Boomerang Crescent
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jacqueline Creedon
- 12-08-2022
Outstanding!
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
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Andrew Eddie
- 02-09-2022
Enlightening
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kirraben
- 04-10-2022
Best book ever
I loved this book I highly recommend it. Eddie is an amazing bloke and a great leader and mentor.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tynman
- 04-11-2022
Role model
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
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Linda Fernihough
- 25-10-2023
Strong story strong family strong words.
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 16-09-2024
Intriguing
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-01-2023
Loved it
Great listen and a really deep insight into what Eddie has overcome but also achieved in his amazing career.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-11-2022
Great Yarn!
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Umma Ia
- 24-11-2022
Took a minute to get used to the narrator
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christopher B. Gould
- 08-08-2022
An important story
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.
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