Least deserving Norm Smith medal winner?

[Bigdaz68]

Maurice Rioli easily. Kicked 3 goals in a losing team but hardly influential in the contest at all, while half a dozen Carlton players were clearly better on the day and more influential to the result. Head scratching decision but was the first Rioli to be fawned over for an average game.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Dusty 2017

He played well but, watching live, I felt Houli was the most influential player on the day.

 

[Pistol Night]

He played well but, watching live, I felt Houli was the most influential player on the day.

Yeah that's the pretty common view

 

[Grockadoc]

People saying Dusty...

He was the highest rated player on the ground according to player ratings. He was the cleanest player on the ground. By far.

 

[Falchoon]

I reckon it's Jason Johannisen

39

Jason Johannisen

Age

33

Ht

181cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.2

5star

K

12.9

5star

HB

7.3

5star

M

4.3

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

418.9

5star

D

16.3

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.9

3star

MG

283.1

4star

D

15.6

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.6

4star

. Statistically he won't look like the worst but there was more daylight between him and the best players on the ground that day than any other Norm Smith I can recall.

Who is the least deserving Norm Smith medal winner?

Buckley - The rules were changed after his win to include the whole game rather than just the first 3.5 quarters.

Pendlebury very lucky there was a mulligan/repechage, Dale Thomas was the best Pies player over the 8 quarters.

 

[Farm Boy]

Hodge is the only one who really stands out as least deserving

 

[Altum Volantes]

Cannot recall the 2010 replay too well. Who did you have ahead of Pendlebury?

Scott Emblebury!

 

[pjcrows]

I wish we could have a least deserving Norm Smith winner.

 

[TRP1996]

I wish we could have a least deserving Norm Smith winner.

Andrew McLeod is obviously the Crows least deserving Norm Smith medallist.

 

[JPetro83]

Andrew McLeod is obviously the Crows least deserving Norm Smith medallist.

Well i think Ben Hart should have won it in 1998

 

[iameviljez]

Thats really rough and disappointing to see the post come from a Dogs fan.

He was electric and on the day, at the ground my pick for Norm Smith. Watching the replay later, i would have given it to Boyd but you've greatly exaggerated the gulf between them

Josh Kennedy was the best on ground that day by a country mile IMO.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Hodge is the only one who really stands out as least deserving

In what alternate reality are you posting from?

In 2008 he was responsible for something like 17 defensive wins, thwarting Geelong’s inside 50’s. Leppeitch spoke about it an AFL coaching accreditation seminar as one of the great defensive games.


In 2014 he had 35 disposals, dominated the Swans when the game was there to be won and kicked 2 goals.

 

[iameviljez]

Buckley - The rules were changed after his win to include the whole game rather than just the first 3.5 quarters.

In 1989, Whitten cast his votes with about 15 minutes to go - and as Geelong was about four goals behind at the time, he gave 3 to Pritchard. The story goes that upon lodging his votes, he found out with much relief that everyone else had plumped for Ablett... not getting the medal for that performance would have been highway robbery.

 

[iameviljez]

Figjam Buckley ,thought it should have been voss.

Buckley - The rules were changed after his win to include the whole game rather than just the first 3.5 quarters.

While Voss would have been deserving, Buckley was excellent on 2002 GF Day. It's one thing to say Voss should have won, it's another to say that Buckley was undeserving.

Buckley was exceptional, and single-handedly almost dragged a wildly outgunned Collingwood midfield to a flag against a far superior opponent. He was, IMO, the right choice for the Norm Smith on the day.

 

[Fabab]

While Voss would have been deserving, Buckley was excellent on 2002 GF Day. It's one thing to say Voss should have won, it's another to say that Buckley was undeserving.

Buckley was exceptional, and single-handedly almost dragged a wildly outgunned Collingwood midfield to a flag against a far superior opponent. He was, IMO, the right choice for the Norm Smith on the day.

Almost being a defeat unless the record books have changed and the vote was taken after the 3rd quarter and not at the games conclusion, purely my opinion figjam wasn't a worthy winner.

 

[Upgrayedd]

How so?

Like a player wasn't clearly the best on ground?

I dont enjoy Judd/Buckley as the team lost on the day

 

[iameviljez]

Almost being a defeat unless the record books have changed and the vote was taken after the 3rd quarter and not at the games conclusion, purely my opinion figjam wasn't a worthy winner.

Yes, "almost" is still a defeat. But Buckley was just that good on the day - and that Collingwood side should not have been within 40 points of that Brisbane team, even in the wet.

Put it this way:
Buckley led Collingwood in possessions that day with 32. The next best was Lonie with 21, then nobody else better than 18.
9 i50s, the next best had 5.
8 clearances, the next best had 3 (!!!).

It was up there with Kennedy in 2016, Ablett in 2008 and Kernahan in 1993 for great performances in losing GFs in the AFL era.

 

[Fabab]

Yes, "almost" is still a defeat. But Buckley was just that good on the day - and that Collingwood side should not have been within 40 points of that Brisbane team, even in the wet.

Put it this way:
Buckley led Collingwood in possessions that day with 32. The next best was Lonie with 21, then nobody else better than 18.
9 i50s, the next best had 5.
8 clearances, the next best had 3 (!!!).

It was up there with Kennedy in 2016, Ablett in 2008 and Kernahan in 1993 for great performances in losing GFs in the AFL era.

ok stats count more than watching a game ,you win well done.

 

[iameviljez]

ok stats count more than watching a game ,you win well done.

I did both. But you can’t get far in a discussion by just saying what you felt you saw.

 

[Fabab]

I did both. But you can’t get far in a discussion by just saying what you felt you saw.

I gave my opinion from a game 20 odd years ago ,I didn't realize that its a point scoring question .
I already said you win but I cant say what I thought from then?

 

[Mr Meow]

People saying Dusty...

He was the highest rated player on the ground according to player ratings. He was the cleanest player on the ground. By far.

View attachment 2466192

The same player ratings had Nick Daicos as a clear BOG in the 2025 prelim against Brisbane.

 

[BigVic]

Johannisen. Goddard should've got the first Norm Smith Medal in 2010

 

[iameviljez]

I gave my opinion from a game 20 odd years ago ,I didn't realize that its a point scoring question .
I already said you win but I cant say what I thought from then?

Of course you can. Disagreement on a chat board is normal

 

[iameviljez]

How so?

Like a player wasn't clearly the best on ground?

I dont enjoy Judd/Buckley as the team lost on the day

I think winning the medal in a losing side is a really special personal achievement.

Ablett Sr’s performance in 89 is what turned him from superstar to megastar. It’s worth giving.

 

[Upgrayedd]

I think winning the medal in a losing side is a really special personal achievement.

Ablett Sr’s performance in 89 is what turned him from superstar to megastar. It’s worth giving.

I left out Ablett Snr from those two because he was clearly the best and biggest influence of the game on the day. Judd/Buckley were not undeniable.