Smeaton 'sets the benchmark' for the rest of the squad: Horne

Richard Horne declared Sam Smeaton the benchmark for how players should conduct themselves after the centre signed a new deal with the club.

Smeaton will spend a seventh season with the Dons after agreeing a new one-year deal.

The 37-year-old passed on the captaincy to Reece Lyne at the start of the year but has earned praise from Horne for his attitude and application throughout the 2025 campaign.

And the head coach said Smeaton provides the perfect example for all his teammates.

“It was one of those where at the beginning of the year we could have just started to move past him,” Horne said. “Just because of his age and the need for us to plan for the future.

“He fully understood and never sulked about that or not having the captaincy any more. You couldn’t say that about every player.

“He came back stronger and fitter and embraced the whole thing as a sort of challenge rather than a setback.

“His attitude has been incredible and he’s an example for any player of how to deal with any kind of adversity. For anyone to respond in that manner is impressive but to do so at the stage of a career where Sam is at tells you everything you need to know about him.

“He’s worked as hard as anyone over the last 12 months and he’s been as big a part of this group as he has been in any year that he’s been here with us.

“The other lads can learn so much from Sam, with the amount of experience he has in the game. But just watching how he goes about his business will be so valuable for them as well.

“If they show the same attitude and commitment that he does, they’ll go a long way and so will we as a club.”