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Rupert Betheras

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Rupert Betheras

Rupert James Betheras (born 23 November 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer and a contemporary artist, whose practice has largely been painting-based and also involved installation and sculpture. As a painter, Betheras began as a teenage graffiti artist on the streets of Melbourne.

Betheras played football for De La Salle in the VAFA before being given the opportunity to play with East Perth for the 1996 season whilst on a surfing holiday in Margaret River in Western Australia.

In 1997, he was recruited to the Fremantle Dockers rookie list, before moving back to Melbourne and earned a spot on the Collingwood Magpies rookie list. He was then drafted late in the 1998 AFL draft at no. 76 by Collingwood, and made his debut in 1999 at Victoria Park against the West Coast Eagles.

A brave utility who poured his heart and soul into the Collingwood Football Club,[citation needed] Rupert Betheras was a crowd favourite[citation needed] amongst the Collingwood faithful between 1999 and 2004, the latter season marking his delisting from the squad, something which continues to irk Collingwood fans.

Affectionately known by fans as 'Rupe', he began his AFL career at the mature age of 23, after spending 1998 on the club's now abolished supplementary list. He began the season fortunate to make the squad, but ended it as captain and the Best and Fairest winner in the reserves, prompting the club to use the 75th selection of the 1998 National Draft on the ex-surfer.

Betheras made an immediate impact in his first season, making his debut against the West Coast Eagles in the second last game played at Victoria Park in round three. He impressed initially, before he was demoted back to the reserves. It was here that Betheras showed his mettle, rebounding to regain selection in the round ten loss to Sydney at the SCG, famous for being the afternoon on which Swans spearhead Tony Lockett booted the 1300th goal of his career, breaking former Magpie Gordon Coventry's record of 1299. Although the majority of his teammates were swamped by the home team's onslaught, Betheras was unperturbed, hitting the Swans with everything, tackling with vigour and displaying his future trademark endeavor.

Despite his lack of size, Betheras proved himself an excellent mark and more than useful by hand or by foot, and was Nathan Buckley's right-hand man for much of the season underneath the packs. Betheras' rise earned him plaudits from all, including the Harry Collier Trophy as best first year player, the Wrecker Award as player with most desire, as well as finishing 9th for the Copeland Trophy.

Betheras backed up his debut efforts the following year in playing all 22 matches and was elevated with Licuria to a deputy vice captain of the team. He was played by new coach Mick Malthouse through the midfield and out of halfback, often wracking up large possession numbers.

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