Get Smartt A Priority For Sharks

East Fremantle recruit Oskar Smartt has made a significant impact at the club since arriving from Victoria this season.

The 20-year-old small forward has kicked 12 goals through six rounds for the Sharks, who have hit a form slump, losing their last three matches and sitting ninth on the ladder.

“I feel like I have fitted in well,” Smartt told radio station 6pr.

“My time at East Fremantle has been perfect so far, the club is amazing.

“Bill Monaghan is a fantastic coach, and I am close with Bill.

“He’s actually my dog babysitter at the moment.”

Smartt plays his footy with attitude and doesn’t mind ruffling the feathers of opposition players.

“I think I get a little hot headed at times,” he said.

“I ended up chirping big Mason Cox in the opening game of the season, and he probably could have lifted me off my feet.

“My approach can get under the skin of opposition players, and it is how you get cheap free kicks these days.”

Smartt has already shown he’s a weapon and an x-factor player at WAFL level, taking a spectacular mark against the Royals in Round 3.

“There is an inside joke at the club that I am in the no-jump club,” Smartt revealed.

“We have a few players in the side that can’t jump and I was named as one of them, so I enjoyed that grab.

“I also love a good goal.

“I don’t mind playing deep in attack, a bit like Dustin Martin in the goal square, but I’m not as good as him.”

“I don’t think I have kicked 11 goals in my life, so to have that many this early in the season is surreal.”

Growing up in country Victoria, Smartt confesses to not being immersed in the game he now loves.

“I didn’t watch much footy growing up, but I was a Hawks supporter and I’m a Jack Gunston fan as well as the great Buddy Franklin.”

Smartt’s potential was spotted by Essendon last year when they selected him in the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

He played four games for the Bombers before being de-listed and learned some lessons about the standards required at the top level.

“You need good fitness in the AFL and that was something I lacked,” Smartt said.

“I didn’t have the best pre-season before I joined the Bombers because I was injured, but I was thankful for my time at Essendon.”

Having signed a two-year deal with the Sharks, Smartt is desperate for another opportunity in the AFL.

“As a kid I dreamed of playing AFL, and I made it,” he said.

“My new dream is to get back there and give it another crack, and I feel like I can be in the AFL.”

Smartt made a bold move to re-ignite his career and leave his home state, but he does have family ties in WA.

“I’ve changed my whole lifestyle this year and moved away from home,” he said.

“I just want to give it my best this year and hopefully receive another chance.”

“My mum’s side of the family lives in Esperance.”

“My great grandma turns 90 soon so I will be heading there for the celebration.”

East Fremantle plays the West Coast Eagles on Saturday at The Good Grocer Park.