Norm Betson

{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Norm Betson

| image =

| fullname = Norman Edward Betson

| birth_date = {{birth date|1914|7|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Shepparton, Victoria

| death_date = {{death date and age|1988|5|5|1914|7|8|df=y}}

| death_place =

| originalteam = Miepoll, Culcairn, Albury

| height = 193 cm

| weight = 92 kg

| position =

| statsend = 1945

| years1 = 1940–1945

| club1 = Essendon

| games_goals1 = 78 (41)

| careerhighlights =

}}

Norman Edward Betson (8 July 1914 – 5 May 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the early 1940s.

Before arriving at Essendon, Betson initially played with Miepoll,{{cite web |title=1936 - Win To Longwood |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223864954 |publisher=Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic) |access-date=19 March 2024 |page=73 |date=10 October 1936}}{{cite web |title=1936 - Miepoll's high flyer |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223864801 |publisher=Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic) |access-date=19 March 2024 |page=69 |date=10 October 1936}}{{cite web |title=1940 - DISTRICT PERSONALS |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/217913980 |publisher=Goulburn Valley Stock and Property Journal (Vic) |access-date=14 March 2024 |page=1 |date=2 October 1940}} Albury and was captain-coach of New South Wales club Culcairn. A follower, he appeared in six finals for Essendon but missed out on a spot in their 1942 premiership team, after only being named an emergency for the Grand Final. Betson did however participate in the 1943 VFL Grand Final and in the final seconds had a snap at goal which could have secured a draw, only to have the ball touched on the goal-line by a Richmond player.

Betson joined Glenelg in 1946 and spent much of his first year as captain-coach. He continued until 1949 just as a player but spent the 1948 season as captain. During this time, he represented the South Australians at interstate football. Betson then captain-coached Nathalia in 1950{{cite web |title=1950 - Betson gets permit to coach Nathalia. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/178604932# |newspaper=Sporting Globe |date=17 May 1950 |publisher=The Sporting Globe |access-date=10 June 2020 |ref=17 May 1950, p. 13.}} and the following season played at Lemnos.