"If I have to take the full brunt of all that and try and educate people so that the platform is a safe place,I am happy to cop the brunt.

"It deeply hurts and you think to yourself'why do I keep playing footy if I keep copping this?',but I want to make a change.

"The way to hurt these guys is keep playing great footy and keep smiling and that's what I love doing."

Betts did just that last Saturday night when he played an inspirational role in the Blues'upset win against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

In Carlton's first victory at Kardinia Park since 1996,Betts kicked two vital goals and produced a number of game-saving pressure attacks in the dying seconds,including running down Geelong's Jack Henry with a lunging tackle.

Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield went up to Betts to offer his support following Geelong’s loss to Carlton last Saturday

.‘‘I know he’s had to deal with this sememem for his entire life,and it’s crap,’’ Dangerfield told SEN on Wednesday.

‘‘He doesn’t want his kids to have to go through it,I don’t want his kids to have to go through it.

‘‘We just all need to be better,and I don’t understand how people get off on this sort of commentary they’re willing to drop on us,it’s so disappointing.

‘‘I just hope that we can all help change what is currently happening,because it’s not in the past,it’s still happening. Eddie’s done such an incredible job leading it,confronting it,which no doubt would be incredibly difficult.’’

AAP