Eddie Betts still looks to have plenty left in his big bag of tricks, with the former Carlton and Adelaide star putting on a show in his Northern Territory Football League debut.
The 34-year-old pulled on the black and whites stripes of the Palmerston Magpies on Saturday night in his first match since calling time on his 350-game AFL career.
Despite the wet conditions, fans packed into Cazaly Arena to see the mercurial forward light up the stage once again.
Despite the 34-point loss to the Nightcliff Tigers, Betts was able to still write his name in the headlines with a characteristic goal from the pocket.
After the match, Betts spoke on the goal and the exciting quality the NTFL currently boasts, with a string of ex-AFL players and emerging stars adding to the standards.
“It was a good match, good fun, a bit different to AFL footy. Nightcliff are a good side who play good footy,” he told NT News.
“I didn’t move much, staying mainly in the forward 50 which I kind of enjoyed. On that goal I saw the sign saying ‘Eddie’s pocket’ and I thought I could give it a go.
“There’s some real talent up here. If we can get that talent development up here you never know what you can get out of it.”
The loss has the Magpies currently placed sixth on the ladder with a 2-4 record, while the Tigers currently hold top spot with a 5-1 start to the year.
Former AFL figures Dane Swan (Waratah), Harry Taylor (Southern Districts), Aaron and Alwyn Davey (both Palmerston) and Matt Campbell (Darwin Buffaloes) are among the headlining names in the NTFL this season.