After a little more than a month as an AFL player, Oskar Smartt is ready for his moment on the big stage.
The 19-year-old small forward will make his AFL debut when the Bombers face Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night, becoming the Club’s 12th debutant of the 2025 campaign – among its highest tallies ever in a season and its most since 1974.
Taken with pick No.17 in the 2025 Mid-Season Rookie Draft, Smartt has enjoyed great development over the course of two seasons with Essendon VFL in pursuit of his elite level opportunity, impressing Dons’ recruiters with his x-factor and forward pressure.
Possessing a strong frame and tenacious attack on the ball for a player of 180cm, Smartt is more than willing to throw his weight around on-field and constantly creates scoring chances with his craft around goal – a three-goal haul against Richmond in the VFL Dreamtime game being his best effort this year.
Smartt is grateful to earn his chance at the highest level after plenty of hard work, especially in a formative couple of years’ worth of involvement at the Club.
“I’m feeling that good about it. It’s definitely an achievement I’ve always wanted to get and I just can’t wait to get out there,” Smartt said.
“Obviously (nerve wracking) when the Coach asks you to come in for a chat, he said I’ll be debuting and I just froze, I didn’t know what to say.
“Essendon VFL has had a big impact on my career and the progress I’ve made, I could name all of the staff, coaches and boys who are just unreal.
“There were a few setbacks, missing drafts and having chats with Clubs and not getting picked up, the main thing for me was to play to my strengths and not worry about what other people wanted, getting good habits, becoming a better footballer and person.
“It’s one of the best feelings calling your family and seeing their reactions, it means a lot – the adrenaline will hit, hopefully I can kick a few snags.”
The former Bendigo Pioneer and Leitchville-Gunbower product’s efforts are set to culminate in an exciting scene for a debut, expecting plenty from his hometown to flock to the matchup with a young Tigers outfit under the primetime lights at Melbourne’s home of footy.
Essendon take on Richmond from 7:35pm on Saturday.
