Which medal is awarded to the best player in the AFL Grand Final?

The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to the best player in the AFL Grand Final.

The medal honours Norm Smith, a celebrated Melbourne coach and former player. Smith coached Melbourne to six VFL premierships between 1955 and 1964 and became closely associated with tactical excellence and Grand Final success. The award bearing his name was first presented in 1979.

A panel selects the recipient based on performance in the Grand Final itself. Players from either the winning or losing team can be eligible, although winners have received the medal most often. The award therefore differs from the Brownlow Medal, which recognises the best and fairest player across the home-and-away season.

The medal has occasionally been presented to joint winners when the voting produces an equal result. Its name is sometimes confused with the Michael Tuck Medal, which was awarded to the best player in the AFL pre-season competition before that competition’s later changes.