Derek Eggmolesse-Smith
Eggmolesse-Smith with Richmond's VFL side in May 2019
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-05-04) 4 May 1998
Original team(s) Bendigo Pioneers (TAC Cup)
Draft Category B rookie signing, 2018 rookie draft
Debut Round 16, 2019, Richmond vs. Gold Coast, at Metricon Stadium
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s) Half-back
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018–2021 Richmond 9 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2021.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith (born 4 May 1998) is an Australian rules footballer who last played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). After being overlooked in the 2016 draft, he became the first player ever to be signed by the club under the Next Generation Academy rules when he was contracted in November 2017. He made his AFL debut for the club in round 16 of the 2019 season and later that year became a VFL premiership player while playing reserves grade football for the club. He was de-listed at the end of the 2020 season but re-contracted ahead of the 2021 season after training with the team during the summer. He was not offered a new contract by the Richmond Football Club at the conclusion of the 2021 season.

Early life, junior and state-league football

Eggmolesse-Smith grew up in Wentworth, New South Wales, a country town on the border with Victoria near Mildura,[1] and is of Indigenous Australian (Barkindji) descent.[2] He played local junior football with Wentworth in the Sunraysia Football League (SNFL) including in an under 16s premiership in 2014 with fellow future AFL players Jarrod Brander and Kobe Mutch.[3] While eligible for the Greater Western Sydney academy in Wentworth, a family move south of the border to Mildura made Eggmolesse-Smith eligible to join the Richmond academy in its first intake in 2016.[4][1][5] He was one of the first members of the club's newly created Next Generation Academy program for young Indigenous and multicultural players from the Sunraysia region of northern Victoria.[5][6]

In 2016 he was a standout player for Wentworth in SFNL, finishing the season by winning both the league's Rising Star and Best and fairest awards.[7] He also played three matches that season for the region's junior representative team, the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup.[8] In the lead up to the 2016 draft period, Richmond officially nominated Eggmolesse-Smith for priority draft access under the league's academy rules, enabling the club to sign him as a category B rookie should he be passed over by all other clubs in the national and rookie drafts.[6][9] Though he would indeed go undrafted, Richmond ultimately decided to pass on the chance to sign him.[10]

Egmolesse-Smith with Richmond's VFL team while a member of the club's Indigenous Academy in August 2017

Ahead of the 2017 footballing season, Eggmolesse-Smith moved to Melbourne, pursuing an opportunity to play higher grade local football and train with Richmond's reserves team.[7] That year he played with the Fitzroy Stars in the Northern Football League, returned to Wentworth for limited matches in the Sunraysia League and also featured with the Bendigo Pioneers in TAC Cup.[7] He played VFL football for Richmond's reserves side for the first time in late-May 2017.[11] That same month he played in an exhibition match for promising young indigenous footballers, held on the MCG prior to that season's Dreamtime at the 'G AFL match.[12] Eggmoless-Smith finished the VFL season having played five matches and averaging 14 disposals per game.[1]

Eggmolesse-Smith was again nominated by Richmond ahead of the 2017 draft period, with a media report from Fox Footy suggesting the club was considering using a national draft choice on him and was near-certain to sign him should he go undrafted.[13][14]

AFL career

2018 season

Eggmolesse-Smith was signed by Richmond as a category B rookie in November 2017 under the league's academy rules.[15] He was the first player from the program ever to be signed to the club's AFL list.[16]

He made his first appearance for Richmond when he represented the club in a series of AFLX exhibition matches in Sydney in February 2018.[17][18] Before the season officially began however, Eggmolesse-Smith suffered a stress fracture in his lower leg.[19][20] After spending most of the season on the sidelines, Eggmolesse-Smith returned to football with the club's reserves side in the VFL in early August.[21] After finishing as minor premiers, Richmond's reserves side lined up a home qualifying final against Williamstown in which Eggmolesse-Smith featured as a defender.[22] After a loss in that match, Richmond's reserves side suffered a knock-out loss the following week which saw the team and Eggmolesse-Smith's season come to a close.[23] Eggmolesse-Smith finished 2018 having failed to earn an AFL debut, instead playing four matches with the club's reserves side in the VFL.[24]

2019 season

After being re-contracted in the off-season, Egmolesse-Smith began the 2019 season with Richmond's VFL side where he impressed in pre-season matches in March.[25][26][27] He continued at that level through the opening months of the season, impressing VFL coach Craig McRae with his defensive play.[28] In early May Eggmolesse-Smith had what McCrae labelled "arguably the best game he’s played for the club" when he recorded 21 disposals and seven rebound-50s in a VFL win over Williamstown.[29] Later that month he played strongly in the club's Indigenous Round VFL match and featured in the club's the war cry performance ceremony before that match.[30][31][32] Eggmolesse-Smith was named as an AFL-level emergency in round 13 after a strong run of form at VFL level.[33][34] He would have to wait another three weeks before earning an AFL debut, elevated to the club's primary list in place of the long-term injury listed Alex Rance and playing his first match in the club's round 16 match against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.[35] Eggmolesse-Smith collected 19 disposals and four rebound-50s on debut, holding his spot for round 17's match against Greater Western Sydney.[36] He was one of five Indigenous players for Richmond in that match, a new club record.[8] After two matches at AFL level, Eggmolesse-Smith was dropped back to VFL level in late July where he immediately starred with 26 disposals and nine marks at half-back.[37][38] He remained at the lower level through the end of the VFL team's minor-premiership winning home and away season, though missed most of one match with a corked buttock sustained mid-match.[39][40] In a come-from-behind qualifying final win over the Essendon reserves, Eggmolesse-Smith notched 20 disposals, before adding another 17 in the VFL preliminary final a fortnight later as Richmond's reserves won through to that league's grand final.[41][42][43] In the VFL grand final, Eggmolesse-Smith was named by AFL Media as one of Richmond's best players, notching 20 disposals as his side defeated Williamstown to earn the club won its first reserves grade premiership since 1997.[44][45] Eggmolesse-Smith finished 2019 having played two matches at AFL level, as well as a further 19 with the club's VFL premiership winning reserves side.[46][47]

2020 season

After a full pre-season of training, Eggmolesse-Smith first played in 2020 with the club's reserves side in VFL practice matches in March.[48] The season was postponed before its opening round however, owing to safety concerns as a result of the rapid progression of the coronavirus pandemic into Australia.[49] The AFL season began in late March without Eggmolesse-Smith able to earn selection, before it too was postponed due to the pandemic after just one round was played.[50][51][52][53] After an 11-week hiatus, Eggmolesse-Smith returned to competitive match play in an unofficial scratch match against Collingwood's reserves on the same week as the AFL's round 2 matchup between the two clubs, arranged in place of the now cancelled VFL season.[54][55] Following a further three scratch matches at reserves level, he was recalled to AFL level for round 6's match against Sydney in place of Bachar Houli, who had elected not to travel with the team after a virus outbreak in Melbourne forced it to be relocated to the Gold Coast.[56][57][58][59] As with all matches in the reduced 17-round season that year, it was held with playing time reduced by one fifth, owing to the need for clubs to play multiple games on short breaks later in the year.[60][61] A week later he produced a standout best-on-ground performance, earning two Brownlow Medal votes and a match-high eight Coaches Association award votes for a stat sheet that included 471 metres gained and a team-high 23 disposals in the win over North Melbourne on the Gold Coast.[62][63][64] He remained in the senior side for a further four matches, before being dropped to reserves level following a seven clanger performance in round 11's loss to Port Adelaide.[65][66] Eggmolesse-Smith continued to play reserves football for the final weeks of the shortened season and into the club's AFL finals campaign.[67][68] Eggmolesse-Smith remained unselected through the course of the finals series, unable to earn selection while his teammates earned the club a second successive AFL premiership.[69][70] He finished the season having played six AFL matches.[65] At the end of the season, Eggmolesse-Smith was delisted by Richmond after a three-year stint at the club which included eight AFL matches.[71][72][73]

2021 season

After being overlooked by all 18 clubs at the 2020 national and rookie drafts, Eggmolesse-Smith was offered an opportunity to win back his spot at Richmond under the league's pre-season supplemental selection rules.[74][75] He trained well over the summer with focus on building his endurance before featuring in the club's one official pre-season match with eight disposals from a limited 31 per cent time on ground.[76][77] In the second week of March, Eggmolesse-Smith was formally re-signed for a one-year contract.[76] He spent the opening two rounds of the season playing reserves football with the club's VFL side, before earning selection at AFL level for the club's round 3 match against Sydney.[78][79] After recording just nine disposals in the match and owing to the return from injury of veteran half-back Bachar Houli, Eggmolesse-Smith was returned to VFL level after just one match.[80][81]

Player profile

Eggmolesse-Smith plats as a rebounding half-back. He is a natural left-foot kicker and is notable for his creative and penetrating ball-use by foot.[82]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 11, 2021[65]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2018 Richmond 430——————————————
2019 Richmond 43200191635440.00.09.58.017.52.02.0
2020[lower-alpha 1] Richmond 4360053247715130.00.08.84.012.82.52.2
2021 Richmond 43100639120.00.06.03.09.01.02.0
Career 9 0 0 78 43 121 20 19 0.0 0.0 8.7 4.8 13.4 2.2 2.1

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2020 season was played with five fewer home & away season matches per team, and with the playing time of each match reduced by 20%.

Personal life

Eggmolesse-Smith is a Barkindji Aboriginal man.[83]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "AFL DRAFT WATCH – DEREK SMITH". VFL. Sports TG. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  2. ↑ "AFL Players' Indigenous Map 2018" (PDF). AFLPA. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. ↑ Dearlove, Angus (1 December 2017). "Wentworth production line continues to build". Sunraysia Daily. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  4. ↑ Homfray, Rebecca (24 July 2020). "Derek Eggmolesse-Smith on his journey from country footy to the MCG with Richmond". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 Cahill, Georgina (20 February 2017). "Richmond Academy players train with the Tigers". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  6. 1 2 Twomey, Callum (5 September 2016). "Tigers eyeing off Kayle Kirby as a category B rookie". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 Dealove, Angus (14 February 2017). "Wentworth star heads for Richmond to chase the dream: Going to town". Sunraysia Daily. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  8. 1 2 Spiteri, Tate (16 July 2019). "Eggmolesse-Smith a role model for Academy cubs". Korin Gamadji Institute. Richmond FC. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  9. ↑ "Wentworth player could soon be a Tiger". Sunraysia Daily. Fairfax Media. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  10. ↑ Dearlove, Angus (29 November 2017). "Hard work pays for Derek". Sunraysia Daily. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  11. ↑ Dearlove, Angus (27 May 2017). "Fitting time for Victorian Football League debut". Sunraysia Daily. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  12. ↑ Ryan, Peter (27 May 2017). "Dream MCG curtain-raiser for indigenous players". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  13. ↑ Twomey, Callum (9 May 2017). "Next Generation Academy prospects". Hawthorn FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  14. ↑ Waterworth, Ben (28 September 2017). "AFL Draft Watch: Brisbane's Pick 1 hint, Tigers' mature-age target, Gryan Miers' huge grand final". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  15. ↑ Twomey, Callum (27 November 2017). "Pre-Season Draft back on, Blues change mind". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  16. ↑ "Tigers land first Academy selection". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  17. ↑ Guthrie, Ben (14 February 2018). "AFLX squads: Running machines locked in". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  18. ↑ "AFLX full wrap: How did your club go?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  19. ↑ Waterworth, Ben (2 August 2018). "AFL 2018 debuts: The young guns at every club who could still debut in 2018". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  20. ↑ "Who's yet to be seen in 2018?". Hawthorn FC. Telstra Media. AFL Media. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  21. ↑ Mann, Brenton (11 August 2018). "VFL Tigers succumb to Seagulls". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  22. ↑ Mann, Brenton (1 September 2018). "Lights out as Seagulls eclipse VFL Tigers". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  23. ↑ Black, Sarah (8 September 2018). "Axed Tiger shines in heartbreaking VFL loss". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  24. ↑ "Scoring Summary". Peter Jackson VFL 2018. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  25. ↑ Phelan, Jennifer (13 November 2018). "Flag hero likely to remain a Tiger after Swans cool interest". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  26. ↑ Mann, Brenton (9 March 2019). "VFL Tigers overtaken by Hawks". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  27. ↑ Mann, Brenton (21 March 2019). "Cubs impress in VFL Tigers' win over Blues". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  28. ↑ "VFL Report: Round 2". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  29. ↑ Mann, Brenton (7 May 2019). "VFL Report: Round 5". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  30. ↑ "VFL R8: War cry". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  31. ↑ Mann, Brenton (28 May 2019). "VFL Report: Round 8". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  32. ↑ "Richmond AFL, VFL and VFLW players embrace cultural dances". Korin Gamadji Institute. Richmond FC. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  33. ↑ "In the mix: Who's pushing for selection for round 12?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  34. ↑ "AFL teams round 13: Big name Bombers return, Murphy back for Carlton". The Age. Fairfax Media. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  35. ↑ Kalac, Grace (4 July 2019). "Eggmolesse-Smith to debut". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  36. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (7 July 2019). "Eggmolesse-Smith excels on debut". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  37. ↑ Spits, Scott (18 July 2019). "Fantasia ruled out as Bombers make four changes for Crows clash". The Age. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  38. ↑ Mann, Brenton (23 July 2019). "VFL Report: Round 16". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  39. ↑ Mann, Brenton (17 August 2019). "VFL Tigers end home and away season with a nail-biter". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  40. ↑ Mann, Brenton (15 August 2019). "VFL Report: Round 19". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  41. ↑ Mann, Brenton (31 August 2019). "Nank the hero as VFL Tigers come back from the brink". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  42. ↑ "Derek Eggmolesse-Smith to chase VFL flag". Sunraysia Daily. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  43. ↑ Mann, Brenton (22 September 2019). "VFL Grand Final squad profiles". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  44. ↑ Balmer, Matt (22 September 2019). "Marlion Pickett was best on ground in the VFL Grand Final. He could debut in the AFL one". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  45. ↑ Phelan, Jennifer (22 September 2019). "'Great player... great story': Tiger sensation pushes case for GF debut". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  46. ↑ "Eggmolesse-Smith and Aarts sign on for 2020". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  47. ↑ "Scoring Summary". 2019 Hard Yakka / Totally Workwear VFL. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  48. ↑ Mann, Brenton (8 March 2020). "VFL Tigers overrun Werribee". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  49. ↑ Beveridge, Riley (13 March 2020). "Game off: Tiger stars to miss valuable practice match". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  50. ↑ "AFL to go ahead with round one of men's 2020 season amid coronavirus pandemic". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  51. ↑ Barrett, Damien (10 March 2019). "Why coronavirus could force the AFL to play games without fans". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  52. ↑ Barrett, Damien (22 March 2020). "'Most serious threat in 100 years': AFL postpones season". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  53. ↑ "AFL suspends season in response to coronavirus, with AFLW season cancelled — but NRL plays on for now". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  54. ↑ Cleary, Mitch (10 June 2020). "Will your club play a scratch match this weekend?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  55. ↑ "Scratch match player summary". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  56. ↑ "Scratch match player summary v Hawks". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  57. ↑ "Scratch match player summary v Saints". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  58. ↑ "Scratch match player summary v Demons". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  59. ↑ Kalac, Grace (10 July 2020). "Tigers make five changes for Swans clash". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  60. ↑ "Coronavirus crisis and footy: The state of play". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  61. ↑ David Mark and James Coventry (14 March 2020). "AFL looking at cramming matches in case coronavirus outbreak postpones 2020 season". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  62. ↑ "Richmond's Brownlow night: Leader, top five, total votes". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  63. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (20 July 2020). "Eggy's cracking display". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  64. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (21 July 2020). "Dashing Derek top Tiger in Round 7". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  65. 1 2 3 "Derek Eggmolesse-Smith". AFL Tables. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  66. ↑ Kalac, Grace (16 August 2020). "Tigers make three changes for Suns clash". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  67. ↑ "Scratch match v Geelong player summary". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  68. ↑ "Scratch match v Brisbane player summary". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  69. ↑ McGarry, Andrew (24 October 2020). "Richmond defeats Geelong in AFL grand final at the Gabba to cement status as one of greatest-ever teams". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  70. ↑ "Scrimmage match v Collingwood player summary". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  71. ↑ "Tigers confirm list changes". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  72. ↑ "'Egg' time up at Tigerland, despite coming out of shell in 2020". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  73. ↑ Randall, Michael (1 December 2020). "Rivals stunned by Tigers' call on Egg". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  74. ↑ Waterworth, Ben (18 December 2020). "The 16 players seeking AFL lifelines that have been invited to train with clubs in 2021 summer". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  75. ↑ "Tigers to look at a quartet of 'train-ons'". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  76. 1 2 "Eggmolesse-Smith signs on". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  77. ↑ Twomey, Callum (5 March 2021). "Tigers hang on in a thriller, Pies sweat on injuries". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  78. ↑ Mann, Brenton (13 March 2021). "VFL Tigers surge past Bombers". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  79. ↑ "Eggmolesse-Smith named for Swans clash". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  80. ↑ Whiting, Michael (8 April 2021). "TEAMS: Flag Tiger axed, veteran returns, debutants galore". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  81. ↑ Mann, Brenton (10 April 2021). "VFL Tigers tough it out in loss to Werribee". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  82. ↑ "Coaches' Corner: Derek Eggmolesse-Smith". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  83. ↑ Dinham, Abby (25 May 2017). "Indigenous AFL hopeful in Melbourne for Dreamtime". SBS.com.au. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
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