Shai Bolton wins Norm Smith Medal despite Fremantle loss

sportsSep 26, 202634120

Shai Bolton won the 2026 Norm Smith Medal despite Fremantle losing the grand final to the Brisbane Lions 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) at the MCG. Bolton polled 10 votes from the selection panel, edging Lions pair Dayne Zorko and Will Ashcroft who had six votes each. Bolton recorded 26 disposals, 686 metres gained and nine score involvements in a performance that surprised him minutes after the loss. Ashcroft produced a fourth-quarter masterclass with 12 disposals and four clearances in the final term, finishing with 31 disposals and nine clearances as the Lions overturned a 17-point deficit. Fremantle’s Caleb Serong collected 24 disposals and 13 clearances and finished fourth in the Norm Smith standings with four votes. Bolton is only the fifth player to win the medal from a losing team, joining Maurice Rioli (1982), Gary Ablett Sr (1989), Nathan Buckley (2002) and Chris Judd (2005). After receiving the medal from 2009 winner Paul Chapman, Bolton said, "To our boys, heads up, we'll be back better and stronger."

Greg Jericho

@grogsgamut.bsky.social

They did the votes for the Norm Smith with about 4min to go, right?

5714d ago

Rɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ Tᴜꜰꜰɪɴ ᵃᵘ ᶜᵇʳ ᶜᶠᶜ4

I remember whey they did it with 10 to go for the 2002 and I think it was Vossy had an absolute blinding last 5 minutes and was robbed.

Kerrie West4

Serong was better than him.

Robert Challis2

Sad for Fremantle. They would have felt the final result as a real gut-punch

arthurnorman2.bsky.social2

Yes seems that way ....Zorko was clearly the better for 4 qtrs

crankyofcroydon.bsky.social2

Because playing well for 5 minutes means more than playing well for 75?

Gazometer1

Usually 20 minute mark of the last

ABC News Australia

@news.abc.net.au

Dockers star Shai Bolton wins Norm Smith Medal in AFL grand final loss to Lions

1314d ago

Louis Schetzer PhD 🍉

@schetz1.bsky.social

This is the 9th time the Norm Smith medal has been awarded to a First Nations player 🖤💛❤️ #AFLGF

714d ago

Niall

@niallau.bsky.social

IMO - They should award the Norm Smith medal to the first player that punches Lachie Neale in the stomach behind play. 🤔 #AFLGF #AFLFreoLions #AFL

514d ago

Floofy with a Chance of Spanakopita

@floofytyrant.bsky.social

YES SHAI BOLTON ABSOLUTELY DESERVES THE NORM SMITH! FABULOUS. #AFLGF #DockersLions

614d ago

ESPN Australia

@espnaustralia.bsky.social

Fremantle's Shai Bolton takes home the Norm Smith Medal 💜 A truly valiant performance from Bolton and the Dockers in their thrilling #AFLGF loss to Brisbane.

614d ago

David Rafferty

@davidrafferty.bsky.social

Bolton a little surprising for Norm Smith. Not wrong - there wasn’t a clear standout BOG. I would have gone Zorko or Young personally. But Bolton was good.

414d ago

Warwick Long

@warwicklong.bsky.social

The flying around the G does it for me. Elite. This is one of the great Grand Final performances. Give Kylie the Norm Smith.

314d ago

disgraced wellness blogger

@dryobbo.bsky.social

Old mate birding the camera with blood visibly dribbling from his temple for the Norm Smith

314d ago

ABC News Bot (unofficial)

@abcnewsbot.bsky.social

The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to a player from the losing side in an AFL grand final for the first time in 21 years.

214d ago

Zero Hanger

@zerohanger.bsky.social

For just the fifth time in V/AFL history, the Norm Smith Medal has been awarded to a losing player. FULL VOTING BREAKDOWN >>> zerohanger.com/mcrgm #AFL

213d ago

m0nty (handy point enjoyer)

@paulmontgomery.bsky.social

Rain doesn’t help either side in the #AFLGF. Would like to see Freo win but Brisbane should start favourites. Darcy Fort the key for mine, has the job in front of him quelling Jackson. Prediction: Brisbane by 25 points, Charlie Cameron gets Norm Smith with a big bag.

214d ago