Bolton claims Norm Smith in defeat as Lions make it three straight

Shai Bolton has won the Norm Smith Medal in a losing side after Fremantle fell seven points short of Brisbane in the AFL Grand Final.

The Lions won 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) at the MCG on September 26 to claim a third straight premiership, holding off a Dockers fightback in front of a packed house. ABC

The medal goes to the best player on the ground in the Grand Final, as judged by a panel. Bolton polled 10 votes to finish clear of Brisbane pair Dayne Zorko and Will Ashcroft, who each polled six.

Caleb Serong finished fourth with four votes. The voting panel was chaired by dual Norm Smith medallist Andrew McLeod, according to Fox Sports. Fox Sports

Bolton gathered 26 disposals, meaning kicks and handballs combined. He gained 686 metres with the ball and had nine score involvements, which counts any touch in a passage that ends in a shot at goal.

He was Fremantle's spark all afternoon. When the Dockers needed run and break from congestion, he provided it.

It puts him in rare company. Bolton is only the fifth player to win the Norm Smith in defeat, and the first in 21 years.

Chris Judd was the last to do it, for West Coast against Sydney in 2005. The others are Nathan Buckley in 2002, Gary Ablett Sr in 1989 and Maurice Rioli in 1982. ABC

Brisbane still had the night. Ashcroft finished with 31 disposals and nine clearances, which are clean wins of the ball from a stoppage. Twelve of those touches and four of those clearances came in the final term, when the game was on the line.

Zorko collected 28 disposals across half-back and midfield. Serong kept Fremantle in it with 24 disposals and 13 clearances.

The game was branded the 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final. AFL

What makes this stand out is the split. Brisbane gets the cup. Fremantle gets the best player. That almost never happens on Grand Final day, and it tells you how close Fremantle pushed a champion side.