What is the Norm Smith Medal?
The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to the best player on the ground in the AFL Grand Final. First presented in 1979, it is named after Norm Smith, the legendary coach who led Melbourne to six premierships.
Norm Smith played for and coached Melbourne, guiding the club to premierships in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1964. He was known as the Red Fox and is one of the greatest coaches in the game's history.
The medal is decided by a panel of judges, usually former players and experts, who vote for the best player after the match.
Famous winners
The first Norm Smith Medal was won by Wayne Harmes of Carlton in 1979. Other winners have included Gary Ablett Sr, Andrew McLeod, Luke Hodge and Chris Judd.
Richmond's Dustin Martin is the only player to win the medal three times, in 2017, 2019 and 2020. Several players, including Gary Ayres, Andrew McLeod and Luke Hodge, have won it twice.
Sometimes the medal is awarded to a player on the losing team, such as Gary Ablett Sr in 1989, who kicked nine goals for Geelong in a narrow loss. The award is one of the most prestigious honors in Australian football.
Did You Know?
The Norm Smith Medal is presented on a stage on the MCG straight after the Grand Final siren.