AFL great Eddie Betts has called for sporting clubs and major organisations in Australia to give Indigenous people more leadership opportunities.
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The former Carlton and Adelaide champion has been appointed as a development coach at Geelong after calling time on his decorated 350-game career in August.
His part-time role with the Cats next year will be balanced with a welfare job, where he will work with Indigenous liaison officers at other AFL clubs.
Betts has been a powerful voice in calling out racism during the last decade and says he will keep fighting for what he believes in more than ever now that his playing days are over.
He is the second Indigenous AFL figure to be appointed in a coaching role this week after former Melbourne defender Neville Jetta was added to Collingwood's support staff.
Former Magpies and Geelong speedster Travis Varcoe, who is now a development coach with the Western Bulldogs, last month pondered why there were not more Indigenous coaches in the AFL.
"I feel like I've got a bigger role to play now that I'm not playing AFL football, within Australia, to use my voice to help stamp out racism," Betts said on Thursday.
"Talking to organisations to make sure it's culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to go in there.
"I still want to make change here in Australia and that's what I'm passionate about.
"I think organisations and clubs should look at Aboriginal culture and look at the way they lead; we all lead differently.
"We're not always the one up the front of the class, or front of the boys talking.
"The way that we're brought up, our culture is loving, caring and bringing people together.
"We need Aboriginal people in leaderships roles within organisations.
"We do lead differently and it is powerful but I need to get people to see that."
Australian Associated Press
