In 2002, Nathan Buckley became the third player to win a Norm Smith Medal in a losing grand final, as he single handily kept his young Collingwood side in the match for four quarters against the rampant Brisbane Lions.
Maurice Rioli in 1982 and Gary Ablett Sr in 1989 were the only two players to accomplish the feat before Buckley.
Going into the match, the Pies side averaged just 67 games of AFL experience, in comparison to the Brisbane side who averaged 219.
The Lions were filled with now AFL legends across every line, going into the match with three Brownlow Medallists, with Simon Black winning during the week to add the already crowned Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis.
Due to these stars, the Magpies midfield was forced to try contain the Lions outfit rather than attack themselves – this left Buckley to do majority of the lifting in the engine room.
The wet and blustery conditions suited the Lions who were led by hard-nosed skipper, Voss – who many believe was robbed of the medal after collecting 28 disposals and a goal.
But by being the only player to reach more than 21 disposals for his side, Buckley was the sole reason the Pies were within two kicks in the final moments of the day.
Buckley – who was famously traded from the Bears in the early stages of his career, went head-to-head with Voss and fought hard all day.
Especially in the third term, when the game, which had only had eight goals between both sides – begun to open up.
When Lockyer took the intercept mark from the kick-in and dished off to a moving Nathan Buckley who launched from 55 to put the Maggies in front with 12 minutes gone in the third term, many Collingwood fans would have felt he was on the cusp of conquering the Goliath that was the Brisbane Lions side.
In the final term, there was over 20 boundary throw ins where Buckley fought his heart out, but he just didn’t have the support around him to get the job done as six Magpies players had less than ten disposals.
The Brisbane unit proved to be too strong across every line when Akermanis snapped his famous match-sealing major with a touch under five minutes remaining in the match, as the Lions secured back-to-back premierships in the 10.15 (75) to 9.12 (66) win.
Buckley created history in his performance, joining an accomplished yet unwanted club by winning the Norm Smith Medal in the loss.
In addition to the day filled with bad luck for the Pies champion, Buckley and his Magpies became the first side since 1990 to win the third term of the grand final, but not the premiership.
The star midfielder was the only player on the ground to collect 30 disposals with his 32 possessions, he also booted that fantastic goal, laid five tackles and also led the ground for clearances with eight.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
I still reckon Voss was the greatest player I've ever seen, and a big part of it was the fact that no one else could match him for the ability, when the contest was fiercest, to heave his team onto his shoulders and haul them over the line.
Jorge of Brisvegas
Roar Rookie
Revisiting history can sometimes be viewed as “rewriting” history. In this case it is in between. Tyler’s article does depict a great performance by Buckley generally and highlights his clearances , possessions and third quarter goal as definitive reasons why he was voted Best On Ground. However as The Watcher recalls correctly, they changed the rules of Grand Final Norm Smith voting after this match. Why ? Not because they had been considering it before or because a rules committee thought it to be unusual, up to 2002(or whenever they changed it before then) it had served them well. Although, common sense would say you watch whole game then vote but alas that was not the requirements [I believe due to broadcast interests]. They changed the rules AFTER this grand final because of one reason, they made the wrong decision.Because of one Herculean act that ensured Brisbane would win the game. Tyler is correct, though he wisely does not spell it out clearly, by comparing Voss and Buckley’s game. Buckley, in a disposal sense, had a statistically superior game than Voss because his team was across the board weaker. What this analysis does, is the same thing as the men who voted on the Norm Smith did 18 years ago, not count the last 10 minutes. Voss came into to a muddled and muddied contest on half forward / wing at pace and dove into 8 to 10 players. Disregarding personal risk and not following any conventional football move unless you can patent “the Superman extraction”. He dove full length across ground through the morass of muddied limbs and with 1 arm punched(?) / swatted(?) / willed(?) the ball out from the contest and forward to the Lions end from where they goaled. THAT moment marks the 2002 grand final. That moment clearly demonstrated 1 man rose or dove through the rest of the competitors and came out the other side as a stand(albeit prostrate) alone player. That is why they changed the rules. That is revisiting the whole event.
Jorge of Brisvegas
Roar Rookie
Completely agree. “With AFL legends across every line” surely fine, dry conditions would have allowed the superior players to showcase their finer skills and display the difference in class. That did not happen because it was a good old wet game where you dig in and fight hard for territory and keep pressure on. Collingwood did that very well.
The watcher
Guest
I also agree. The game was tight all day and Brisbane lost one of their ruckman in first 5 minutes. By the same token as aka said “Leon Davis might not have had a possession, but we had about 15 blokes who were dirty on how they played that day” and they still won! Always thought what Voss did in the last 10 minutes of the 4th qtr was as good as anyone has ever done to will his team over the line. Afterwards, They actually changed the Norm Smith voting rules to ensure votes arent cast until after the final siren. That effort is one of the reasons that team is often rated better than the late 2000s Geelong or 3 peat Hawks, because they never lost a GF they should have won. Hell they even led until halfway through the 3rd qt in 2004 despite having half the team playing injured against a very good Port side.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
I wonder when he’ll get sacked
Spur
Guest
I don’t think it hurts as much as Adelaide’s loss is still hurting you. Jason Cloke went for a spoil and collected Edwards. It happens frequently in football. Edwards was hurt when he hit the ground. But you believe your conspiracies.
Jimmy
Guest
OMFG will interstate fans EVER stop sooking??? Wah wah way. You were beaten by a superior team. I hope it hurts bas Timmy Timbo. What’s it been? 23 years of failure? I hope that Wooden Spoon feels great
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Which player took out Edwards Timbo?
Timbo's rules
Guest
Hmmmm. Semi final, One man, Tyson Edwards, stands up in the 3rd and 4th quarters and single handed drags his side to victory. Prelim, Mick Malthouse sends out some poor kid to knock out said player and Collingwood wins. In the GF the rain evens up the two teams, the umpires were shockingly biased toward Collingwood in the first half. It was all so close and still Collingwood lost. I hope it hurt.
Bruce
Guest
That was an awesome moment in footy. Voss got hit but still dished off the handball to black who slotted the goal. I can still remember the mmm commentary. Something like Voss gets in his burns face and says you've gotta hit me a lot harder than that!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I agree. The shocking conditions kept the gallant but out of their depth Pies in the match. The other big event that might have actually got us the win was a hit by Scott Burns on Voss first or early second qtr I think. He got him a fair whack but Voss was made of steel and got up. If he collected him fully we might have stolen a flag. Aker had done a groin early too and this was also the infamous Anthony Rocca goal/ non goal.
Steele
Roar Rookie
He was some player.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
Disagree that the conditions suited the Lions. I think if anything the weather was on Collingwood's side.