The Norm Smith Medal — Best On Ground In The AFL Grand Final

The Norm Smith Medal goes to the best player on the ground in the AFL Grand Final. A bronze medallion presented after the final siren, voted by a panel of three former AFL stars, awarded since 1979 — the Norm Smith is the closest thing to immortality available in Australian Rules. Win a Brownlow and you’re a star; win a Norm Smith and you’re a Grand Final hero forever. Dustin Martin won three. The next-most is two. The bar has been set, and it’s astronomical.

The History: Norm Smith and the 1979 Origin

The Norm Smith Medal is named after Norm Smith, Melbourne’s six-time premiership coach (1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964) and one of the most successful figures in VFL history. Smith died in 1973; the medal was instituted in 1979 in his honour.

The first Norm Smith Medallist was Wayne Harmes of Carlton, who won the 1979 Grand Final’s “best on ground” honour for his iconic moment in the final quarter — Harmes hooked the ball back from the boundary, dished it to Sheldon, who goaled to seal the Blues’ premiership over Collingwood. The “I knocked it back!” celebration is one of the most-replayed moments in AFL Grand Final history.

The voting panel: three former AFL players (selected by the AFL) vote during the Grand Final and immediately after the siren. The medal is presented in the post-match celebration; the player typically performs a media-friendly walking-lap with it, often accompanied by family and teammates.

The Three-Time Norm Smith Club

Dustin Martin is the only player to win three Norm Smith Medals — 2017, 2019, and 2020. The achievement is so dominant that “Dusty” became synonymous with Grand Final excellence:

• 2017 Grand Final: Richmond 16.12 (108) vs Adelaide 8.12 (60). Martin’s 30 disposals, 4 goals — Tigers’ first flag in 37 years.
• 2019 Grand Final: Richmond 17.12 (114) vs GWS 3.7 (25). Martin’s 23 disposals, 4 goals — Tigers’ second flag in three years.
• 2020 Grand Final: Richmond 12.9 (81) vs Geelong 7.8 (50). Martin’s 21 disposals — Tigers’ third flag in four years, played at the Gabba due to COVID.

The next-most is two Norm Smith Medals. Multiple players have done this:

• Andrew McLeod (Adelaide): 1997, 1998 — Crows’ back-to-back premierships.
• Gary Ayres (Hawthorn): 1986, 1988 — Hawks’ premiership era.
• Maurice Rioli (Richmond): 1980, 1982 — Tigers’ early-1980s flags.
• Luke Hodge (Hawthorn): 2014, 2015 — Hawks’ three-peat era.

Recent Winners

• 2025: TBD
• 2024: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane), Grand Final win over Sydney
• 2023: Bobby Hill (Collingwood), Grand Final 4-point win over Brisbane
• 2022: Isaac Heeney (Sydney) — actually no, Sydney lost; the 2022 Norm Smith went to Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
• 2021: Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Grand Final win over Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium
• 2020: Dustin Martin (Richmond) — third
• 2019: Dustin Martin (Richmond) — second
• 2018: Luke Shuey (West Coast), Grand Final win over Collingwood by 5 points
• 2017: Dustin Martin (Richmond) — first
• 2016: Jason Johannisen (Western Bulldogs), Grand Final win over Sydney
• 2015: Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn), Grand Final win over West Coast
• 2014: Luke Hodge (Hawthorn), Grand Final win over Sydney
• 2013: Brian Lake (Hawthorn), Grand Final win over Fremantle

Trivia for the Pub

• The Norm Smith Medal was instituted in 1979.
• The first winner was Wayne Harmes of Carlton.
• The medal is named after Norm Smith, Melbourne’s six-time premiership coach.
• The voting panel comprises three former AFL players.
• The medal is presented in the post-match celebration.
• Dustin Martin’s three Norm Smiths are the all-time record.
• The medal can be won by a player on the losing team (rare but it has happened — 2007 Mark McVeigh of Essendon was a noted possibility, though his Bombers won the Grand Final).
• The medal includes a $10,000 cash prize in modern times.
• The Norm Smith is voted during the Grand Final itself, not retrospectively.
• Players who win both a Brownlow and a Norm Smith in the same year are exceptionally rare.

The Famous Moments

• 1979 — Wayne Harmes: “I knocked it back!” The boundary hook-back that sealed Carlton’s flag.
• 1989 — Greg Williams: Carlton’s stunning 1989 win over Collingwood; Williams’ midfield masterclass.
• 2005 — Chris Judd: West Coast’s 4-point loss to Sydney; Judd’s BOG performance in defeat.
• 2017 — Dustin Martin: Tigers’ 48-point win, Martin’s 30 disposals, the start of a Norm Smith dynasty.
• 2021 — Christian Petracca: Demons’ 83-point win at Optus Stadium, ending a 57-year drought; Petracca’s 39 disposals.
• 2023 — Bobby Hill: Magpies’ 4-point win, Hill’s 6 goals.

The Rumours

The persistent rumour: player vote for Norm Smith. Has been canvassed; the three-judge panel is preserved.

The other rumour: extending the Norm Smith vote to all finals. Won’t happen — the Norm Smith’s prestige depends on Grand Final exclusivity.

The Verdict

The Norm Smith Medal is footy’s most-celebrated individual Grand Final honour. Dustin Martin’s three medals are an all-time record that may never be beaten. Every Norm Smith winner is permanently in the AFL’s Grand Final pantheon — a piece of metalware that lives forever. Long live Norm Smith.