Ecstatic but empathetic.
Amid the shock of Oskar Smartt being selected by Essendon at Pick 17 of the 2025 Mid-Season Rookie Draft was a telling moment that offers an insight into the teenager's care and compassion for teammates.
Essendon was understood to be considering several VFL-listed Bombers for selection at the May draft, including the dashing Cam Nyko, who injured his hamstring playing in the state league the week prior to the intake.
“I remember a comment he made after he got drafted: he felt gutted that one of his teammates got injured just before the draft,” his Bendigo Pioneers coach Danny O'Bree said of Smartt.
“He thought (his teammate) was going (to be drafted) and really felt bad that he potentially took his place.
“Even though he got his opportunity, he felt the other player had missed his opportunity because of injury at the wrong time.
“It shows how much he loves his teammates and the people around the team and how much time and effort he puts into them.
“He's a very loyal kid – if he feels supported and people show him care then he's very loyal to those people.
“He's always been a great teammate and would stand up for people when he needed to and celebrate the good things.”
Named to debut against Richmond on Saturday night, Smartt has quickly become a favourite among Dons players, having been a comparably important cultural piece for the VFL side in the first half of the season.
Hailing from Leitchville-Gunbower Football Club, just south of the Murray River in the state's northwest, and playing local footy alongside now St Kilda-listed talent James Barrat, he has always had compelling AFL attributes.
But the former Pioneer has needed to draw on his resilience since leaving the Talent League program, having come close to getting drafted at the 2023 National Draft and 2024 Mid-Season intake, before ultimately being overlooked on both occasions.
Showcasing his weapons more consistently and developing professional habits have been the growth areas for Smartt, who moved out of home as a 17-year-old to be closer to resources and facilities available to him in Bendigo through the Pioneers program.
His independence took another step forward last year when he moved down to Melbourne, away from the ‘village' that supported him.
“He's come so far,” O'Bree said.
“His maturity was probably the thing holding him back but talking to him now, he's a completely different human being.
“The time and effort people around Bendigo used to put into him, whether it was driving him around Bendigo to make sure he got to the gym and his skill sessions and everything else.
“Everyone saw the talent and where we thought he could end up and, as everyone always talks about, it takes a village and I thought he had a pretty good village around him.
“Now it's all clicked for him.
“I'm glad Essendon supported him in the VFL system and could see the talent, so credit to everyone, including Oskar.”
The lively, aggressive small forward will be Essendon's 12th debutant of the season, with Saturday certain to be an emotional night for his family, the Bendigo Pioneers and the Leitchville-Gunbower Football Club.
“He's taken his game to another level this year in our program which is a credit to himself and the coaching staff for helping with his development on and off the field,” National Recruiting Manager Rob Forster-Knight said via Essendon's website following the Mid-Season Draft.
“He's got a lot of attributes as well: he's a very powerful and combative player and covers the ground well so we're very excited to see what he can offer in the future.”
Smartt has averaged 14 disposals, four tackles and a goal in the VFL this season and has showcased a range of traits which have long been a feature of his game, after a strong finish to 2024.
“He's always had speed and power, and the kicking was the number one thing for me that stood out,” O'Bree said.
“How physical he was with his tackling and contested situations was impressive – he's always been tough and he's capable of taking a big hanger too, so he's got a fair few traits.
“From very humble beginnings to make it, I'm sure it will be a pretty amazing feeling when he runs out on the ground.”
