One of the growing traditions of grand final day is being able to select the Norm Smith medallist. Heck, some people are even able to make a tidy sum of jellybeans through the fine art of gambling on it.
The process of picking the winner is often a bigger story than the player himself.
It seems that since 2007 – around about the time social media really took off – the player who has won the award has been the one with the best story, rather than the one who put in the best on-field performance.
2007 – The winning story: Steve Johnson’s remarkable comeback from exile to be a key driver in Geelong’s 2007 campaign capped off by four goals in the grand final
The best player: Matthew Scarlett played as good a game as a defender could hope to play in a grand final. Led possessions for his team and added in eight marks and eight one percenters.
2008 – The winning story: Luke Hodge’s courage and strength to overcome broken ribs and marshal the Hawthorn defence despite being in discomfort.
The best player: Stewart Dew is regarded by most Hawthorn fans and experts as the player that won this premiership for the Hawks. Brad Sewell and Hodge were the other best.
2009 – The winning story: Paul Chapman’s legacy as being a big-game player, a great player in the wet, and crucial in close Geelong wins meant this game broke perfectly for Chapman.
The best player: Jimmy Bartel’s 2009 game is criminally underrated in grand final history. He took the tough task of quelling the influence of Lenny Hayes and helped turn the grand final with his negating job. Finished with 19 possessions but 16 tackles in a stunning display of contested football.
2010 (i) – The winning story: Lenny Hayes’ long-range goal in the fourth quarter probably swayed the voters in his direction.
The best player: Brendon Goddard had the bigger moment though with a towering mark and goal with 10 minutes to go and was regarded as the better of the two Saints on the day.
2010 (ii) – The winning story: Scott Pendlebury’s resilience in overcoming illness and a poor first grand final to be a standout was always going to win him the medal.
The best player: Steele Sidebottom and Heath Shaw had more of the pivotal moments in this game and could have won the medal in what was an even all round performance from Collingwood.
2011 – The winning story: Jimmy Bartel’s legacy etched in stone in adding a Norm Smith medal to go with his Brownlow and three premiership medals.
The best player: Hard to go past Bartel in this one with the best story and best player winning the medal, however watching in a bar in Germany I did think Joel Corey was crucial to Geelong winning this game.
2012 – The winning story: Ryan O’Keefe continuing a stunning ten weeks of form since going into the midfield, capping off with a Norm Smith medal.
The best player: Dan Hannebery is widely regarded as igniting the Swans at a couple of pivotal moments and playing a key role in the Swans premiership success.
2013 – The winning story: Brian Lake’s redemption tale in coming to a new club and playing the defensive anchor role that Hawthorn desperately needed.
The best player: Jack Gunston’s four goals in a low-scoring grand final and general workrate forward of centre was pivotal to this match.
So then, if it is more about the story then the performance in the grand final, here are the top five likely Norm Smith medallists for 2014.
Lance Franklin – If he kicks 4 goals with 10 marks and 15 touches and Sydney win, you have your Norm Smith medal winner.
Ben McGlynn – The heartache of missing out with both Hawthorn and Sydney before finally getting his chance. Is jumping at the chance and could easily lay 10 tackles, kick 4 goals, have 25 touches or a mixture of all three to win the medal.
Brian Lake – The thought of back-to-back Norm Smith’s means he is a big play if he can help hold the Sydney attack in check. In the event of a low-scoring grand final, Lake is a big chance.
Luke Parker/Jordan Lewis – One missed All-Australian selection and the other missed a big vote count on the Brownlow. Expect these perceived injustices to play at the heart of the Norm Smith voters.
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