The great grand final performances not recognised by a Norm Smith Medal

[pazza]

We all know about the Norm Smith Medal. Who has won and why they won. Most if not all have been well deserved. But what about those performances on the biggest day that if not for the award going to others , that should be recognised.

I'd like to start with 3 players and then throw it open.

1985. Dermott Brereton, in any other year, would have got a NSM. 8 goals out of Hawthorn's 14 on the day was basically a lone hand. According to media reports of the time, Brereton finished either 2nd or 3rd in NSM voting that year behind Madden.

1993. Gary O'Donnell. The Essendon utility accumulated the most possessions on the ground that year. Yet somehow missed out on the NSM to Long.

2000. Justin Blumfield. Much like O'Donnell in 1993, Blumfield's onfield performance is arguably 2nd only to Hird on that day.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

Voss - 2002
Aker - 2003
Goddard - 2010

 

[Lithium]

Buddy 2012 - only reason we came back imo
Mitchell 2014
Ablet 2008
Goddard 2010

 

[the big lebowski]

1999 - Corey Mckernan

 

[rumply]

1993. Gary O'Donnell. The Essendon utility accumulated the most possessions on the ground that year. Yet somehow missed out on the NSM to Long

O'Donnell's name came to mind as soon as I saw the thread title & he was a bit unlucky, but I have always thought Longy was being rewarded for his performances throughout the finals as much as he was for his game that day, which was pretty damn good anyway.

 

[Iron]

For the crows you can't really go past D Jarman against the Saints in '97. Hard to take anything away from McLeod, though.

 

[aussierulesrules]

This guy:

 

[Cashmoney13]

This guy:

No doubt! one of the most influential grand final performances I have ever seen, Lenny was a worthy winner any other day of the week but goddards game was a bit more damaging for mine

Jason Gram in 2009 was the best player over all 4 quarters IMO and deserved it in a loosing side

 

[d33my]

Meatloaf

 

[hawker19]

Dan Hannebery in 2012 - I thought he was more influential than ROK.

 

[aussierulesrules]

No doubt! one of the most influential grand final performances I have ever seen, Lenny was a worthy winner any other day of the week but goddards game was a bit more damaging for mine

Jason Gram in 2009 was the best player over all 4 quarters IMO and deserved it in a loosing side

Yep, Gram tied in the voting in 2009 but missed out on a countback.

Goddard in 2010 was just huge. He and Lenny just tried to put our team on their shoulders and lift them over the line, but weren't quite able to do it.

 

[Andrew Mc]

2005 - LRT.

 

[tazaa]

99 Byron Pickett.
09- Gram.

 

[clogged]

I still think there were at least three or four North players better than Archer in 1996.

 

[The Swert]

If the medal was introduced one year earlier...

1978 Leigh Matthews - 28 poss, 4 goals

 

[Beachsleeper]

Matthew Nicholls, 2013

Dude, lose with dignity.

 

[MinerBoy]

Dude, lose with dignity.

Not even sure why this is starting to pop up. Never heard this line until recently.

Scoreboard flattered Freo in the end. Umps had nothing to do with their loss. A little choking goal kicking was the only help we got outside of how we played ourselves.

 

[blueboy25]

1985. Dermott Brereton, in any other year, would have got a NSM. 8 goals out of Hawthorn's 14 on the day was basically a lone hand. According to media reports of the time, Brereton finished either 2nd or 3rd in NSM voting that year behind Madden..

1993. Kernahan kicks 7.4 in a team that only kicks 13 for the day.

 

[TheGreatBambino]

Brett Kirk 2006

 

[Hawk of ages]

Tony Evans in 1992 in all seriousness.

 

[matwt73]

We all know about the Norm Smith Medal. Who has won and why they won. Most if not all have been well deserved. But what about those performances on the biggest day that if not for the award going to others , that should be recognised.


1993. Gary O'Donnell. The Essendon utility accumulated the most possessions on the ground that year. Yet somehow missed out on the NSM to Long.

That was one of the first games of football I can remember really watching (living in QLD will do that to you), so I will admit I was no student of the game, but I still remember Michael Long's performance really stuck out for me.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Goddard 2010
Gram 2009 (Got the same amount of votes as Chapman)
Mitchell and Langford 2014

 

[Ashton Agar]

Jack Gunston in 2013 was robbed.

 

[the_interloper]

For the crows you can't really go past D Jarman against the Saints in '97. Hard to take anything away from McLeod, though.

Not just for the Crows, first one I thought of, no way they would have won without him.

 

[PowerForGood]

Only because its my team and I did notice, but Kane Cornes destroyed Simon Black in 2004. Black smashed the Pies in 03, but Cornes played the perfect run with game in a way that only Ling could play and Crowley could only dream of.
Obviously was never going to win the NM tho.