Fremantle’s Shai Bolton has become the first player in 21 years to win the Norm Smith Medal in a losing grand final team.
Minutes after the heartbreaking 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) defeat to the Brisbane Lions at the MCG, where the Dockers were overrun in the closing stages, Bolton was as surprised as anyone to hear his name called.
Bolton polled 10 votes from the selection panel, edging out Lions pair Dayne Zorko and Will Ashcroft (six votes each).
He is one of only five players to be named best on ground in a losing grand final team.
Chris Judd was the most recent, doing so for West Coast in 2005 against the Sydney Swans.
Nathan Buckley (2002), Gary Ablett Snr (1989) and Maurice Rioli (1982) were the others.
“To our boys, heads up, we’ll be back better and stronger,” Bolton said after 2009 winner Paul Chapman presented the medal.
On paper, Bolton had an excellent match, with 26 disposals, 686 metres gained and nine score involvements.
Shai Bolton had helped put the Dockers in front during the grand final. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Robert Cianflone)
Ashcroft had a case for a third Norm Smith Medal in as many grand finals after a fourth-quarter masterclass.
When Patrick Voss put Fremantle up by 17 points and the ‘Wharfie Time’ rev-up activation sounded around the MCG, it was Ashcroft who helped orchestrate the Lions’ remarkable fightback.
Ashcroft recorded 12 disposals and four clearances in the final term, finishing the match with 31 and nine, as the Lions responded with goals to Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey and Logan Morris to hit the front.
Lions captain Harris Andrews was also superb, along with Zorko (28 disposals).
Fremantle’s Caleb Serong was arguably the most impressive midfielder across the day, with 24 disposals and 13 clearances.
Serong finished fourth in the Norm Smith Medal standings, collecting four votes.
AAP
By
