Past Norm Smith Medalists

1979
Wayne Harmes
Cartlon

1980
Kevin Bartlett
Richmond

1981
Bruce Doull
Carlton

1982
Maurice Rioli
Richmond

1983
Colin Robertson
Hawthorn

1984
Billy Duckworth
Essendon

1985
Simon Madden
Essendon

1986
Gary Ayres
Hawthorn

1987
David Rhys-Jones
Carlton

1988
Gary Ayres
Hawthorn

1989
Gary Ablett
Geelong

1990
Tony Shaw
Collingwood

1991
Paul Dear
Hawthorn

1992
Peter Matera
West Coast

1993
Michael Long
Essendon

1994
Dean Kemp
West Coast

1995
Greg Williams
Carlton

1996
Glenn Archer
North Melbourne

1997
Andrew McLeod
Adelaide

1998
Andrew McLeod
Adelaide

1999
Shannon Grant
North Melbourne

2000
James Hird
Essendon

2001
Shaun Hart
Brisbane Lions

2002
Nathan Buckley
Collingwood

2003
Simon Black
Brisbane Lions

2004
Byron Pickett
Port Adelaide

2005
Chris Judd
West Coast

2006
Andrew Embley
Port Adelaide

2007
Steve Johnson
Geelong

Chapters of the Book

1. Foreword - by Peter Smith

   Norm Smith's only child, his son Peter - who played with Melbourne and Carlton himself - describes the moving and, at times, confronting experience of reading a warts n' all biography on the man he was proud to call his father.

2. Smithy - By Ray Groom

   A poem penned by the former Melbourne utility who played under Smith from 1963-67 and later served as the Liberal Premier of Tasmania from 1992-96.

3. The School of Hard Knocks (1915-32)

   Smith grows up in working-class Northcote, avidly follows Collingwood and, with older brother Len, stars for local football and cricket teams.

4. Demons (1933-38)

   The Smith brothers are lured to Melbourne Football and although Len returns to Northcote after just two seasons (and joins Fitzroy in 1937), the younger Smith, under the astute coaching of 'Checker' Hughes, develops into a high-class forward. He also proves his worth as a mechanical engineer at Miller's ropeworks.

5. The First Hat-Trick (1939-41)

   Norm Smith becomes the fulcrum of a devastating Melbourne attack and is widely regarded as the most unselfish - and, in some quarters, the best - forward in the VFL. He is prominent in three successive premierships and also settles in to married life.

6. 'A worthy lieutenant' (1942-43)

   Smith is appointed vice-captain under captain-coach Percy Beames as the Demons suffer a mass exodus of players who leave for war service. To his everlasting regret, Smith works in a "protected" industry and is exempt from such service. After the premature death of his father, he takes over the family's pram parts business.

7. The Best in the VFL (1944)

   After transforming himself into a centreman, Smith is voted The Herald's "League Star Footballer" an award regarded by many as the substitute of the Brownlow Medal (which was abandoned from 1942-45).

8. Captain (1945)

   Smith makes the seemingly natural progression to the Melbourne captaincy and impresses as a hard but fair leader who has a special ability to draw his teammates together both on and off the field.

9. The Smith-Mueller Legend (1948)

   Smith is disappointed to lose the captaincy to Don Cordner, but continues as a pseudo-captain in the forward half. Struggling with their bodies and seemingly on their last football legs, he and fellow veteran Jack Mueller form a devastating forward combination that pilot the Demons to a miraculous premiership against Essendon.

10. Coach of Fitzroy (1949-51)

    Bitter after missing out on the Melbourne coaching job to former skipper Allan La Fontaine, Smith accepts the top job at an unhappy Fitzroy. A reluctant playing coach initially, he rebuilds morale while ruling with an iron fist and is unlucky not to make the finals in his three seasons in charge.

11. Home Again (1952-53)

    Ironically, Smith pips La Fontaine for the Melbourne job by one vote and sets about rejuvenating a Demons' side that won the wooden spoon in 1951. After a reasonable first-up season finishing sixth, the Demons slump to second-bottom in 1953 and Smith barely survives the axe. A young Ron Barassi also moves into the Smith house.

12. The Demon Uprising (1954)

    After 12 rounds of the 1954 season, Melbourne is 6-6 and seventh. It appears Smith will go a sixth season without coaching in a final. However, he inspires his young side to wins in seven of their next eight matches, and the Demons become surprise Grand final opponents for Footscray. Although his side succumbs by 51 points, Smith is confident about achieving success in the future.

13. Setting Standards (1954)

    Analyses Smith's skills as an orator and the psychology of his approach. Also delves into Smith's working life and the importance he placed on the Demons' social scene, which many describe as a crucial part of the club's success.

14. The Dawning of a Dynasty (1955)

    Melbourne starts the 1955 season with 10 consecutive wins, and among the contributing factors are their forward and defensive systems, midfield pace and strength, and supreme fitness borne out of the most demanding training regime in the competition. Also explores the complex relationship between Smith and his new captain, Noel McMahen.

15. Champions of Australia (1955)

    Smith guides the Demons to their first premiership under his coaching, defeating Collingwood by 28 points in the 1955 Grand Final. He then leads his 'boys' to victories over SANFL and WAFL to become the unofficial 'Champions of Australia'.

16. The Finest Melbourne Side of All (1956)

    The Demons lose just two of their 20 games as they cruise to back-to back premierships, courtesy of a 73-point win over Collingwood in the 1956 Grand Final.

17. The Second Hat-Trick (1957)

    Despite the departure of six premiership players (skipper Noel McMahen, Denis Cordner, Stuart Spencer, Geoff McGivern, Ken Melville and Ralph Lane) and a loss to Essendon in the second semi-final, the Demons are triumphant again, by 61 points in a revenge mission against the Bombers. In the process, Smith becomes - and remains - the only man in AFL/VFL history to be involved in two premiership hat-tricks.

18. The Most Bitter Disappointment (1958)

    The unthinkable happens. The seemingly invincible Demons - who had smashed Collingwood by 45 points in the second semi-final - are upstaged by the Magpies in probably the greatest upset in AFL/VFL Grand Final history. In so doing, they miss the opportunity to equal Collingwood's record of four successive premierships. The result tests Smith's dictum: 'Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat'. Along the way, Smith coaches against his brother Len's Fitzroy for the first time.

19. Order Restored (1959)

    In the wake of the '58 loss, Smith becomes even tougher on his players and drives them to another premiership against Essendon. Not satisfied with that, he immediately sets about repeating the effort.

20. 'Put Those Shotguns Away!' (1960)

    Despite criticism from within the club regarding selection matters, Smith takes his team on a successful revenge mission against Collingwood in eerily similar conditions to 1958. He also coaches against his brother Len's Fitzroy in the first instance of brothers coaching against each other in a final.

21. The End of an Era (1961)

    For the first time in eight years, the Demons fail to reach the Grand Final. They finish second after the minor rounds and third overall after losing finals to Footscray and Hawthorn. At the end of the season, they lose two key players in their success - 'Big' Bob Johnson and Ian Ridley.

22. Just Off The Pace (1962)

    For the first time in nine seasons, Melbourne fails to progress beyond the first week of the finals after being unlucky two-point losers to Carlton in the first semi-final. Len Smith resigns from the Fitzroy coaching job after disputes with the club's committee.

23. 'We Should Have Won The Flag' (1963)

    With skipper Ron Barassi missing the finals after being controversially suspended, the Demons are narrowly beaten in the preliminary final by Hawthorn. Smith is seething. The Demons play premier Geelong in two exhibition matches in the United States and Smith treats it as serious business and 'proves' his side was the best.

24. The Greatest Premiership (1964)

    Smith records perhaps his proudest achievement - a premiership with an unspectacular playing list. Along the way, he humiliates two of his veterans - Frank 'Bluey' Adams and Brian Dixon - into producing their best. Just before Christmas 1964, Ron Barassi controversially accepts the coaching position at Carlton after Smith offers to step aside to keep him at Melbourne. Len Smith accepts the Richmond coaching job.

25. Calm Before The Storm (1965)

    The Demons win their first eight games and then lose three of their next four. There is unrest at Melbourne Football Club. Len Smith also relinquishes the Richmond coaching role because of chronic heart problems.

26. Sacked (1965)

    In perhaps the biggest sensation in the history of the competition, Smith is sacked by the Melbourne committee. The public outcry is deafening and Smith makes an explosive appearance on The Tony Charlton Football Show on Channel Nine. Although the committee reinstates Smith four days later, tensions continue to simmer as the Demons continue their dramatic fall from grace.

27. Severed Ties (1966-68)

    Smith is devastated when his brother Len dies from a heart attack at the age of 55. When Smith suffers heart problems of his own late in the 1967 season, he retires from coaching. When he is rejected for a position on the Melbourne committee, he walks out of the club, never to return. A season out of the game has him keen to return to coaching.

28. The Saviour of South Melbourne (1969-72)

    Smith accepts the massive challenge of coaching struggling South Melbourne. With a revolutionary coaching structure, he takes just two years to turn the Swans into a formidable outfit, piloting the club to their first finals series in 25 years. Again, problems with committeemen lead to his departure at the end of 1972.

29. A Premature End (1973)

    Soon after North Melbourne coach Ron Barassi persuades Smith to become his chairman of selectors, the old master is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. He dies on July 29, 1973 at the age of 57.

30. Postscript

    After his death, Smith received VFL life membership (1978), was honoured with the Norm Smith Medal (1979), awarded to the best player in the Grand Final, was selected as the coach of the AFL Team of the Century (1996), was selected as both the coach and full-forward in Melbourne's Team of the Century (2000), and was elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame (2007).

About Norm Smith

Norm Smith is arguably the greatest Australian Football coach in history. Smith " who, in 1996, was selected as the coach of the Australian Football League's Team of the Century " led the Melbourne Demons to a staggering six premierships from 1955 to 1964. When it came to football, he was a hard man, brutally honest to his players and an utterly ruthless and fearsome disciplinarian, but this was offset by a gentler, charitable side of his nature which was rarely seen in public.

This is his story, and secondarily, that of his older brother and fellow coach Len Smith. It follows their childhood in tough, working-class Northcote during the Depression; Norm as a childhood supporter of Collingwood, the club he would conquer many times over as a man; through his distinguished playing career at Melbourne where he built a reputation as the most unselfish player in the game; his first coaching job at Fitzroy; his triumphant reign at Melbourne, detailing his relationship with his "foster son" Ron Barassi, his friendly coaching rivalry with his brother, and his controversial sacking and reinstatement in 1965; his last coaching job at South Melbourne, which in 1970 he lifted to its fi rst fi nals series in 25 years, culminating in his death at the age of 57.

Timeline

1915
Norm Smith is born in Clifton Hill on November 21, 1915 - the second-born son of Vic and Ethel Smith. A brother, Len, had been born on February 9, 1912. A sister, Marj, arrived in March 14, 1918. They grow up in working-class Northcote.

Early 1920s
The Smith children attend Gold Street State School (now Clifton Hill Primary School). Len captains the football team.

1925
They transfer to a new school - Westgarth Central School - that opens almost directly opposite the Smith house in Clarke Street, Northcote. Norm Smith eventually captains the school side. Like many local boys, he is a Collingwood supporter.

1929
At 13, Norm Smith plays for Dennis in the Northcote & Junior Rechabite Football League.
Smith leaves school to work to start an engineering apprenticeship.
Len Smith plays alongside Herbie Matthews (South Melbourne's 1940 Brownlow Medallist) in the Fairfield Band of Hope team.

Early 1930s
Len Smith starts his VFA career with Northcote (1931).

1932
Len Smith plays in his first premiership with Northcote.

1933
Len Smith plays in his second premiership with Northcote. A centre half-forward, he also finishes runner-up in the 1933 Recorder Cup (the precursor to the Liston Trophy), which recognises the best player in the VFA.

1934
The Smith brothers join Melbourne. Len plays 13 of the last 14 minor rounds in the seniors (who finish sixth) before returning to the seconds to play in a premiership with his brother. By this stage, both brothers are working in the engineering department at Miller's ropeworks in Brunswick.

1935
Norm Smith makes his senior debut against Richmond at the MCG in round 15. He kicks four goals in three games as a half-forward flanker before being sent back to the seconds, where he plays in another premiership. Len Smith plays just six senior games for the season.

1936
Norm Smith kicks 28.36 goals in senior 11 games before being dropped for the finals. He plays in another seconds Grand Final, this time a losing one.
Len Smith returns to Northcote and plays in his third VFA premiership.

1937
Norm Smith kicks 45.55 in 20 games to be second on Melbourne's goalkicking list to childhood mate Ron Baggott (51.40). Smith claims club awards as both the 'most unselfish player' and the 'best forward' in a side that finished third.
Len Smith plays the first of eight seasons with Fitzroy. He starts as a full-forward but makes his name as a centre half-back.

1938
Norm Smith wins his first Melbourne best-and-fairest award after kicking 80.53 in 18 games. Melbourne misses the finals by a game.

1939
Smith kicks 54.72 in 20 games in the Demons' first premiership in 13 years.

1940
Smith kicks 86 goals in 21 games, including seven in the Grand Final, as Melbourne wins back-to-back flags.
A gun local cricketer with Dennis, Smith tries out at district club Northcote. He plays five First XI matches before returning, disgruntled, to Dennis.
On October 19, 1940, Smith marries Marjorie Ellis. 'Marj' is his staunchest ally.

1941
Smith kicks 89 goals in 19 games as the Demons become just the third of just five teams in VFL history to win three successive premierships.

1942
Smith misses six games through injury but still manages to kick 30 goals in 10 games. Melbourne loses many players to war service and finishes eighth.

1943
After being appointed vice-captain, Smith kicks 11 goals in 12 games and spends more time in the centre. Melbourne is seventh.
After his father dies from a heart attack, Smith leaves Miller's ropeworks to take over the family's pram parts business.

1944
Smith plays permanently in the centre and wins The Herald's 'League Star Footballer' award - the game's most prestigious honour with the Brownlow Medal being suspended during World War II. The Demons are eighth.

1945
Smith is appointed captain and returns to a forward role, kicking 33 goals in 17 games. Melbourne is ninth.

1946
With 33 goals in 19 games, Smith leads his team to a remarkable run if victories that culminates in a Grand Final appearance. The Demons lead at half-time but suffer a 63-point hiding at the hands of Essendon.

1947
Plagued by injuries, Smith plays just nine games (15 goals) and the Demons finish sixth, just a game out of the finals.
The Smith's only child, a son they name Peter, is born.

1948
The old warriors, Smith and Jack Mueller, take the Demons to the premiership over a mighty Essendon. Smith is perhaps best-afield in both the drawn Grand Final and the replay.
In the wake of 'Checker' Hughes's retirement as coach, Smith is bitterly disappointed to be overlooked for the job. He takes the coaching job at Fitzroy and persuades his brother to coach the under-19s.

1949
Smith plays 13 games and kicks 22 goals as Fitzroy finishes seventh.

1950
Smith ends his playing career with four games as Fitzroy misses the finals by just percentage (13.9 percent).

1951
Fitzroy misses the finals by just one game after laying out two draws. Smith is appointed coach at Melbourne. The Demons had finished the 1951 season on the bottom of the ladder with just one win.

1952
Smith has an immediate impact at Melbourne, lifting the side to sixth.
Ron Barassi moves in with the Smiths. He lives with them from the age of 16 to 21.

1953
Smith is almost sacked as Melbourne coach after the Demons finish second-bottom with just three-and-a-half wins.

1954
Smith guides his young Demons to the Grand Final against Footscray. They lose by 51 points.
He relocates his backyard business to a factory in North Coburg.

1955
Smith wins his first premiership as coach, defeating Collingwood by 28 points.

1956
The Demons win back-to-back flags after hammering Collingwood by 73 points.

1957
Smith becomes just the first man to be a member of two premiership hat-tricks when his Demons belt Essendon by 61 points.

1958
The Demons fail to equal Collingwood's record of four successive premierships when the Magpies beat them by 18 points in the Grand Final. Len Smith coaches Fitzroy to fourth.

1959
Norm Smith drives his players to glory against Essendon, winning the Grand Final by 37 points.
Fitzroy misses the finals by half-a-game.

1960
Melbourne wins an unprecedented five premierships in six seasons.
Len Smith's Lions were second after the minor rounds. In the first instance of brothers coaching against each other in a final, Melbourne wins the second semi-final by 62 points. The Lions are bundled out in the preliminary final.

1961
The Demons finish third and fail to qualify for the Grand Final for the first time in eight years.
Fitzroy again misses the finals by just half-a-game.

1962
Melbourne finishes fourth after being unlucky two-point losers to Carlton in the first semi-final.
Fitzroy finishes 10th with just five wins. Len Smith resigns after ongoing disputes with committeemen.

1963
The Demons succumb to Hawthorn by nine points in the preliminary final.
Len Smith coaches VFA club Coburg to the finals.

1964
Smith employs a manager at his factory to allow him to become one of the league's first full-time coaches.
He records his greatest triumph - he takes a moderate Melbourne side to the premiership.
He offers to vacate the coaching position to keep Ron Barassi, but the superstar accepts the coaching job at Carlton.
Len Smith's VFL comeback as coach of Richmond is interrupted by heart problems.

1965
Smith is sacked the night before the round 13 clash with North Melbourne. He is reinstated three days later.
After winning their first eight games, the Demons win just two more and slump to seventh.
Len Smith retires from coaching for good after more heart issues. He remains as a tigers selector.

1966
Melbourne finishes 11th with just three wins.

1967
Len Smith dies from a heart attack on July 23, 1967.
Norm Smith suffers heart problems of his own and misses the last three games. He announces his retirement soon after. In his last season as Melbourne coach, the Demons finish seventh.

1968
Smith has a season out of the game. Late in the year, he accepts the challenge of coaching struggling South Melbourne.

1969
The Swans finish ninth for the third season in succession.

1970
In one of Smith's best coaching efforts, he lifts the Swans to their first finals series in 25 years. They lose the first semi-final to St Kilda.

1971
With the Swans severely lacking in resources, they lose players and finish on the bottom with just three wins.

1972
The Swans finish second bottom with two wins and Smith resigns after heated clashes with committeemen. Ron Barassi soon persuades him to be his chairman of selectors at North Melbourne.

1973
Smith is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and dies at his Pascoe Vale home on July 29, 1973.

1978
He is awarded life membership of the VFL.

1979
The Norm Smith Medal is struck to honour the player adjudged best-afield in the Grand Final. The first winner is Len Smith's grandson Wayne Harmes, who stars in a Carlton premiership.

1996
Smith is named coach of the AFL's Team of the Century.

2000
He is selected at full-forward and named coach of Melbourne's team of the Century.

2007
Smith is elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Norm's Stats

Born: November 21, 1915, at Clifton Hill, Victoria.
Died: July 29, 1973, at Pascoe Vale, Victoria

THE PLAYER

Melbourne 1935-48: 210 games, 546 goals.
Fitzroy: 1949-50: 17 games, 26 goals.

TOTAL: 227 games, 572 goals.

Honours: Melbourne Team of the Century (full-forward);
Victorian representative 1941, 1945 (2 games, 2 goals);
Melbourne best and fairest 1938, 1944;
Melbourne leading goalkicker 1938 (80, 31% of team goals), 1939 (54, 17 %), 1940 (85, 25%), 1941 (89, 28%);
Premierships 1939, 1940, 1941, 1948.

THE COACH

Fitzroy 1949-51 (55 games, 30 wins, 23 losses, 2 draws, winning rate 55%).

Melbourne 1952-67: 307 games, 195 wins, 107 losses, 5 draws, winning rate 64%.
Finals: 17 wins, six losses, six premierships (1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964, runner-up 1954, 1958).

South Melbourne 1969-72: 87 games, 26 wins, 61 losses, winning rate 30%. Finals: 1 loss.

TOTAL: 449 games, 251 wins, 191 losses, 7 draws, winning rate 56%

Coach of the AFL Team of the Century (1996)

Coach of Melbourne's Team of the Century (2000)