Norm Smith Medal Winners: Every Winner Since 1979

Who has won the most Norm Smith Medals? Here is every AFL grand final best on ground since 1979, from Wayne Harmes and Gary Ablett Sr. to Dustin Martin, Will Ashcroft and Shai Bolton, plus the multiple winners, records and club tallies.

Shai Bolton is the reigning Norm Smith medallist after a brilliant grand final in a losing side on 26 September. The Fremantle star polled 10 votes from the five-member panel, ahead of Brisbane pair Dayne Zorko and Will Ashcroft on six each, even though the Lions came from behind to win 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) at the MCG.

Bolton had 26 disposals and nine score involvements, and became the first player in 21 years to win the medal in a beaten team, after Chris Judd for West Coast in 2005. He is also Fremantle’s first Norm Smith medallist, and his win stopped Ashcroft from becoming the first player to win three in a row.

Fittingly, the 2026 voting panel was chaired by Andrew McLeod, one of only three players to win back-to-back Norm Smith Medals, and Bolton was presented with the medal by 2009 winner Paul Chapman.

The Norm Smith Medal goes to the player judged best on ground in the VFL/AFL grand final. It is named after Norm Smith, who won four premierships as a player and six as coach with Melbourne, and was first presented in 1979, when Carlton’s Wayne Harmes won it in the Blues’ five-point win over Collingwood.

Each of the five judges gives three votes, two votes and one vote to the players they rate best, second best and third best, and the player with the most votes wins. If two players are level, the medal goes to the one with more three-vote and then two-vote ratings, and only then to the chair’s pick. Until 2016 a drawn grand final was replayed and a medal was awarded for each game, which is why 2010 has two winners. Drawn grand finals now go to extra time.

Every winner is listed below with the grand final result, from the 2020s back to 1979.

Most Norm Smith Medals

3: Dustin Martin (Richmond, 2017, 2019 and 2020)
2: Gary Ayres (Hawthorn, 1986 and 1988)
2: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide, 1997 and 1998)
2: Luke Hodge (Hawthorn, 2008 and 2014)
2: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions, 2024 and 2025)

Martin is the only player to win three. He kicked two goals in Richmond’s drought-breaking 2017 win over Adelaide and four goals in each of the 2019 and 2020 grand finals, the last of them against Geelong at the Gabba, the first grand final played outside Victoria.

Ashcroft was 20 when he won his first medal in 2024, making him the youngest Norm Smith medallist of the AFL era and the youngest since Harmes in 1979. He went back to back in 2025 and was one of the Lions’ best again in 2026, finishing equal second in the voting.

Norm Smith Medal winners from the losing side

Maurice Rioli (Richmond), 1982
Gary Ablett Sr. (Geelong), 1989
Nathan Buckley (Collingwood), 2002
Chris Judd (West Coast), 2005
Shai Bolton (Fremantle), 2026

Ablett’s 1989 performance is still the benchmark. He kicked 9.1 against Hawthorn as Geelong fell six points short, equalling Gordon Coventry’s 1928 record for the most goals in a grand final.

Buckley’s 2002 win also changed how the medal is judged. Judges used to lodge their votes before the end of the game so the medal could be presented on time, but after Brisbane’s Michael Voss starred late in that tight grand final, the votes were moved to after the final siren.

Most Norm Smith Medals by club

Hawthorn: 8
Geelong, Richmond and West Coast: 5
Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon: 4
Adelaide and North Melbourne: 2
Fremantle, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Sydney and Western Bulldogs: 1

Hawthorn leads the way, helped by Brian Lake, Luke Hodge and Cyril Rioli winning it in each of the Hawks’ three straight premierships from 2013 to 2015. Collingwood’s tally includes Scott Pendlebury’s medal in the 2010 replay, while Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast are still waiting for their first winner.

Norm Smith Medal records and facts

First winner: Wayne Harmes (Carlton), 1979
Most medals: 3, Dustin Martin (Richmond)
Back-to-back winners: Andrew McLeod (1997 and 1998), Dustin Martin (2019 and 2020) and Will Ashcroft (2024 and 2025)
Youngest winner of the AFL era: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions), aged 20, in 2024
Only winner on a countback: Paul Chapman (Geelong), who tied with St Kilda’s Jason Gram on nine votes in 2009
Only winner in a drawn grand final: Lenny Hayes (St Kilda), 2010. Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) won it in the replay a week later
Most goals by a winner: 9, Gary Ablett Sr. (Geelong), 1989
Winners in grand finals away from the MCG: Paul Dear (Hawthorn, VFL Park, 1991), Dustin Martin (Richmond, the Gabba, 2020) and Christian Petracca (Melbourne, Optus Stadium, 2021)
Most recent winner: Shai Bolton (Fremantle), 2026

Norm Smith Medal winners: 2020s

2026: Shai Bolton (Fremantle, losing side). Grand final: Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96) def. Fremantle 12.17 (89)
2025: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions). Grand final: Brisbane Lions 18.14 (122) def. Geelong 11.9 (75)
2024: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions). Grand final: Brisbane Lions 18.12 (120) def. Sydney 9.6 (60)
2023: Bobby Hill (Collingwood). Grand final: Collingwood 12.18 (90) def. Brisbane Lions 13.8 (86)
2022: Isaac Smith (Geelong). Grand final: Geelong 20.13 (133) def. Sydney 8.4 (52)
2021: Christian Petracca (Melbourne). Grand final: Melbourne 21.14 (140) def. Western Bulldogs 10.6 (66)
2020: Dustin Martin (Richmond). Grand final: Richmond 12.9 (81) def. Geelong 7.8 (50)

Norm Smith Medal winners: 2010s

2019: Dustin Martin (Richmond). Grand final: Richmond 17.12 (114) def. Greater Western Sydney 3.7 (25)
2018: Luke Shuey (West Coast). Grand final: West Coast 11.13 (79) def. Collingwood 11.8 (74)
2017: Dustin Martin (Richmond). Grand final: Richmond 16.12 (108) def. Adelaide 8.12 (60)
2016: Jason Johannisen (Western Bulldogs). Grand final: Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89) def. Sydney 10.7 (67)
2015: Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn). Grand final: Hawthorn 16.11 (107) def. West Coast 8.13 (61)
2014: Luke Hodge (Hawthorn). Grand final: Hawthorn 21.11 (137) def. Sydney 11.8 (74)
2013: Brian Lake (Hawthorn). Grand final: Hawthorn 11.11 (77) def. Fremantle 8.14 (62)
2012: Ryan O’Keefe (Sydney). Grand final: Sydney 14.7 (91) def. Hawthorn 11.15 (81)
2011: Jimmy Bartel (Geelong). Grand final: Geelong 18.11 (119) def. Collingwood 12.9 (81)
2010 replay: Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood). Grand final: Collingwood 16.12 (108) def. St Kilda 7.10 (52)
2010 drawn grand final: Lenny Hayes (St Kilda). Grand final: Collingwood 9.14 (68) drew with St Kilda 10.8 (68)

Norm Smith Medal winners: 2000s

2009: Paul Chapman (Geelong). Grand final: Geelong 12.8 (80) def. St Kilda 9.14 (68)
2008: Luke Hodge (Hawthorn). Grand final: Hawthorn 18.7 (115) def. Geelong 11.23 (89)
2007: Steve Johnson (Geelong). Grand final: Geelong 24.19 (163) def. Port Adelaide 6.8 (44)
2006: Andrew Embley (West Coast). Grand final: West Coast 12.13 (85) def. Sydney 12.12 (84)
2005: Chris Judd (West Coast, losing side). Grand final: Sydney 8.10 (58) def. West Coast 7.12 (54)
2004: Byron Pickett (Port Adelaide). Grand final: Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) def. Brisbane Lions 10.13 (73)
2003: Simon Black (Brisbane Lions). Grand final: Brisbane Lions 20.14 (134) def. Collingwood 12.12 (84)
2002: Nathan Buckley (Collingwood, losing side). Grand final: Brisbane Lions 10.15 (75) def. Collingwood 9.12 (66)
2001: Shaun Hart (Brisbane Lions). Grand final: Brisbane Lions 15.18 (108) def. Essendon 12.10 (82)
2000: James Hird (Essendon). Grand final: Essendon 19.21 (135) def. Melbourne 11.9 (75)

Norm Smith Medal winners: 1990s

1999: Shannon Grant (North Melbourne). Grand final: North Melbourne 19.10 (124) def. Carlton 12.17 (89)
1998: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide). Grand final: Adelaide 15.15 (105) def. North Melbourne 8.22 (70)
1997: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide). Grand final: Adelaide 19.11 (125) def. St Kilda 13.16 (94)
1996: Glenn Archer (North Melbourne). Grand final: North Melbourne 19.17 (131) def. Sydney 13.10 (88)
1995: Greg Williams (Carlton). Grand final: Carlton 21.15 (141) def. Geelong 11.14 (80)
1994: Dean Kemp (West Coast). Grand final: West Coast 20.23 (143) def. Geelong 8.15 (63)
1993: Michael Long (Essendon). Grand final: Essendon 20.13 (133) def. Carlton 13.11 (89)
1992: Peter Matera (West Coast). Grand final: West Coast 16.17 (113) def. Geelong 12.13 (85)
1991: Paul Dear (Hawthorn). Grand final: Hawthorn 20.19 (139) def. West Coast 13.8 (86)
1990: Tony Shaw (Collingwood). Grand final: Collingwood 13.11 (89) def. Essendon 5.11 (41)

Norm Smith Medal winners: 1979 to 1989

1989: Gary Ablett Sr. (Geelong, losing side). Grand final: Hawthorn 21.18 (144) def. Geelong 21.12 (138)
1988: Gary Ayres (Hawthorn). Grand final: Hawthorn 22.20 (152) def. Melbourne 6.20 (56)
1987: David Rhys-Jones (Carlton). Grand final: Carlton 15.14 (104) def. Hawthorn 9.17 (71)
1986: Gary Ayres (Hawthorn). Grand final: Hawthorn 16.14 (110) def. Carlton 9.14 (68)
1985: Simon Madden (Essendon). Grand final: Essendon 26.14 (170) def. Hawthorn 14.8 (92)
1984: Billy Duckworth (Essendon). Grand final: Essendon 14.21 (105) def. Hawthorn 12.9 (81)
1983: Colin Robertson (Hawthorn). Grand final: Hawthorn 20.20 (140) def. Essendon 8.9 (57)
1982: Maurice Rioli (Richmond, losing side). Grand final: Carlton 14.19 (103) def. Richmond 12.13 (85)
1981: Bruce Doull (Carlton). Grand final: Carlton 12.20 (92) def. Collingwood 10.12 (72)
1980: Kevin Bartlett (Richmond). Grand final: Richmond 23.21 (159) def. Collingwood 9.24 (78)
1979: Wayne Harmes (Carlton). Grand final: Carlton 11.16 (82) def. Collingwood 11.11 (77)

Who will win the 2027 Norm Smith Medal?

Ashcroft will have another crack at a third medal as Brisbane chase a fourth straight flag, while Bolton and Fremantle will be desperate to go one better. The next wave of talent arrives at the 2026 AFL Draft, which starts at Marvel Stadium on Thursday 19 November. Until then, catch up on all the latest AFL news or download the free TSB app on iPhone and Android.

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