Interview
Oscar Berry sat down with Melbourne Media to share his excitement about beginning his AFL journey in red and blue
FOR 23-year-old defender Oscar Berry, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind – and the excitement of officially becoming a Demon is starting to sink in.
“Yeah, it’s exciting,” Berry told Melbourne Media.
“I’ve been eager to get over here for a long time, so it’s pretty surreal being here at the club and taking it all in. I’m just excited.”
From college to an AFL dream
Berry’s journey to Melbourne is unlike most. Growing up in Melbourne, he played junior football with Aberfeldie before moving to the United States to pursue college basketball shortly after beginning his time with the Western Jets.
“Moving over to the States, the one thing that was holding me back was missing footy,” he said.
“I’m super excited to get back to the game and play a sport that I’ve been playing since I was six.”
After a few years away, picking up the Sherrin again has felt natural.
“When I was in the States, it was a struggle finding someone who could kick it back to me,” he laughed.
“But now that I’m back in Australia, I’ve already met up with a couple of the boys, and it’s been really good just to get the ball back in my hands and get some leather poisoning.”
A unique opportunity
Berry’s signing came via the AFL’s Category B Rookie pathway – one that perfectly suited his background and athletic profile.
“The Category B rookie was always in the back of my head,” he said.
“Given that I’d played four years of college basketball, that opportunity was there.
We reached out through my agent – who had a connection through my local footy club – to see if there’d be any interest, and there was. Melbourne was one of those clubs that really had a vision for me and how I could impact the club. It just worked out perfectly.”
Development and direction
That vision – and the club’s emphasis on growth – was what sealed the decision.
“It was really development-focused, especially since I’ve been out of the game for so long,” Berry explained.
“They really took the time to explain how they’d develop me into a player that could impact the game. With Kingy coming in, it’s a brand-new vision and a fun style of football, and I’m really excited for it.”
Family foundations
Sport runs deep in the Berry family. His father’s work in high performance and his brother’s experience in the NFL have shaped Oscar’s professional mindset.
“They’ve been big influences,” he said.
“They’ve shown me what it means to be a professional. My brother’s taken me into locker rooms over there and introduced me to some big-name players – it’s been a super cool experience.
He’s really taken me under his wing when it comes to talking with agents, coaches, and just understanding what it means to be a pro.”
Off-field energy
For those yet to meet him, Berry describes himself simply:
“Super joyful. I’m always smiling, always finding something to do – you’ll never find a dull moment with me,” he said.
“I’m very charismatic, very positive, very optimistic about everything.”