Derek Eggmolesse-Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Derek Eggmolesse-Smith
Eggmolesse-Smith with Richmond's VFL side in May 2019
Personal information
Date of birth	(1998-05-04) 4 May 1998 (age 27)
Original team	Bendigo Pioneers (TAC Cup)
Draft	Category B rookie signing, 2018 rookie draft
Debut	Round 16, 2019, Richmond v. Gold Coast, at Metricon Stadium
Position(s)	Half-back
Career highlights
VFL VFL premiership player: 2019

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, born on May 4, 1998, is an Australian rules footballer. He used to play for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Even though he wasn't picked in the 2016 draft, he made history. He was the first player signed by Richmond through the Next Generation Academy rules in November 2017.

He played his first AFL game in 2019. That same year, he helped Richmond's reserve team win a VFL premiership. He was not offered a new contract by Richmond after the 2021 season.

Derek's Early Life and Junior Football

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith grew up in Wentworth, New South Wales. This is a country town near Mildura, close to the border with Victoria. He is an Indigenous Australian from the Barkindji people.

He played junior football for Wentworth in the Sunraysia Football League (SNFL). In 2014, he won an under-16s championship with future AFL players Jarrod Brander and Kobe Mutch. When his family moved to Mildura, Derek became eligible to join the Richmond academy in 2016. He was one of the first young Indigenous and multicultural players in Richmond's new Next Generation Academy. This program helps talented young players from the Sunraysia area.

Junior Success and Academy Nomination

In 2016, Derek was a star player for Wentworth in the SFNL. He won both the league's Rising Star and Best and Fairest awards. He also played three games for the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup, a junior representative team.

Richmond officially nominated Derek for special draft access. This meant they could sign him as a Category B rookie if other clubs didn't pick him. Even though he wasn't drafted by any team, Richmond decided not to sign him at that time.

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith with Richmond's VFL team in August 2017, while part of the club's Indigenous Academy.

Moving to Melbourne and VFL Debut

Before the 2017 football season, Derek moved to Melbourne. He wanted to play higher-level local football and train with Richmond's reserve team. That year, he played for the Fitzroy Stars in the Northern Football League. He also played a few games for Wentworth and the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup.

In May 2017, he played his first VFL game for Richmond's reserve team. He also played in a special exhibition match for young Indigenous footballers. This game was held at the MCG before the Dreamtime at the 'G AFL match. Derek played five VFL games that season, averaging 14 disposals per game.

Richmond nominated Derek again before the 2017 draft. News reports suggested the club might pick him in the national draft. It seemed very likely they would sign him if he wasn't drafted by another team.

Derek's Senior Football Career

Joining Richmond's AFL Team in 2018

In November 2017, Richmond signed Derek Eggmolesse-Smith as a Category B rookie. This was under the league's academy rules. He was the very first player from Richmond's Next Generation Academy to join the club's main AFL list.

Derek first played for Richmond in some AFLX exhibition matches in Sydney in February 2018. However, before the season officially started, he got a stress fracture in his lower leg. He spent most of the season recovering.

He returned to play for Richmond's reserve team in the VFL in early August. The reserve team finished first in their league. Derek played as a defender in their qualifying final against Williamstown. After losing that game and another, his season ended. Derek did not play an AFL game in 2018. He played four games with the reserve team in the VFL.

2019 Season: AFL Debut and VFL Premiership

Derek was re-signed by Richmond for the 2019 season. He started the year playing well for Richmond's VFL team in pre-season games. He continued to impress his VFL coach, Craig McRae, with his strong defensive play.

In early May, Derek had a fantastic game. He recorded 21 disposals and seven rebound-50s in a VFL win. His coach called it "arguably the best game he’s played for the club." Later that month, he played well in the club's Indigenous Round VFL match. He also took part in the team's war cry performance before the game.

Derek was named as an emergency player for an AFL game in round 13. This showed he was playing very well at the VFL level. Three weeks later, he finally made his AFL debut. He joined the main team because Alex Rance was injured for a long time. Derek played his first AFL game in round 16 against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium. He had 19 disposals and four rebound-50s in his first game. He kept his spot for the next game against Greater Western Sydney. In that match, he was one of five Indigenous players for Richmond, which was a new club record.

After two AFL games, Derek went back to the VFL team in late July. He immediately shone, getting 26 disposals and nine marks. He stayed at the VFL level for the rest of the season. Richmond's VFL team won the minor premiership. Derek played well in the VFL finals. In the VFL Grand Final, he was named one of Richmond's best players. He had 20 disposals as his team beat Williamstown. This win gave Richmond its first reserve grade premiership since 1997.

Derek finished 2019 having played two AFL games. He also played 19 games with the VFL premiership-winning reserve team.

2020 Season: More AFL Games

After a full pre-season of training, Derek played for Richmond's reserve team in VFL practice matches in March 2020. However, the season was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The AFL season also stopped after just one round.

After an 11-week break, Derek returned to play in unofficial scratch matches. These were arranged because the VFL season was cancelled. After three more scratch matches, he was called up to the AFL team for round 6. He played against Sydney because Bachar Houli did not travel with the team.

A week later, Derek had an amazing game against North Melbourne. He earned two Brownlow Medal votes and eight Coaches Association award votes. He gained 471 metres and had a team-high 23 disposals. He stayed in the senior team for four more games. He was then sent back to the reserve level after a tough game in round 11.

Derek continued to play reserve football for the rest of the shortened season. He was not chosen to play in the AFL finals. His teammates went on to win a second straight AFL premiership. He finished the season having played six AFL matches. At the end of 2020, Richmond decided not to offer Derek a new contract. He had played eight AFL games over three years.

2021 Season: A Return to Richmond

After not being picked by any clubs in the 2020 drafts, Derek was given a chance to rejoin Richmond. He trained well over the summer, focusing on building his endurance. He played in the club's official pre-season match, getting eight disposals.

In March 2021, Derek officially re-signed with Richmond for a one-year contract. He played two games for the VFL team at the start of the season. He then earned a spot in the AFL team for round 3 against Sydney. He had nine disposals in that game. With veteran half-back Bachar Houli returning from injury, Derek went back to the VFL team after just one AFL match.

2024 Season: Playing for Sale Football Club

As of July 2025, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith plays for the Sale Football Club in the Gippsland League. He plays as a half-back. He averages 27.5 disposals per game and has a 67% kicking accuracy. He also averages two intercept marks per game for the Magpies.

Derek's Player Style

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith plays as a rebounding half-back. This means he gets the ball from defense and moves it quickly into attack. He is naturally left-footed. He is known for his creative and powerful kicking. Many people think he was unlucky to be delisted by the Tigers. In his nine AFL games, he was one of the top three players twice. He was also very young and had a lot of potential.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 11, 2021

Notes

Personal Life

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith is a Barkindji Aboriginal man.