An image of Norm Smith Medal voting panel chair Andrew McLeod holding a drink at the MCG has caused a stir.
The panel was split across the board as Fremantle star Shai Bolton was judged best-on-ground by the five-person panel following Saturday’s epic Grand Final.
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Bolton became the first player in a losing team to win the medal since Chris Judd in 2006.
Fremantle was still ahead in the game with 74 seconds to play, but the Lions produced a comeback for the ages to kick the final four goals of the game, prevailing 14.12 (96) to 12.7 (89).
While Bolton was a superstar for the Dockers throughout the game, Brisbane’s Will Ashcroft took control of the contest in the fourth quarter where he picked up 12 disposals and came up with several classy clearances when they mattered most.
Ashcroft’s late blitz has led to widespread suggestions the voting panel got it wrong.
The panel is able to submit their votes after the final siren.
As it does every year, debate is raging about the votes given while fans look to assess their own verdicts of the game with those of the Norm Smith panel, which was made up of Crows cult hero McLeod, Hawthorn icon Shaun Burgoyne, West Coast premiership captain Judd, Lions legend Michael Voss and Code Sports footy journalist Lauren Wood.
It’s why an image of McLeod holding a drink in his hand sitting in the stands alongside fellow panel members and other AFL icons has prompted comments from social media users.
The image, which was shared on X by veteran AFL official Patrick Keane, has been the focus of fans, who have questioned the sight of the Norm Smith Medal voting panel chair holding a drink.
It is not clear if the drink was alcoholic or non-alcoholic.
The image was shared by football fan Mick Cockering, who posted a comment that included a beer glass emoji.
“It all makes sense,” he wrote.
Veteran sports journalist Ben Dorries responded to the image by writing: “McLeod warming up for chairing the Norm Smith voting panel by having a few frothies”.
Another person said the image of McLeod was a “clown show”.
News.com.au has contacted the AFL for comment.
McLeod was the chair of the Norm Smith Medal voting panel in 2025 and was widely praised for giving Ashcroft three votes. His selections also mirrored the top three vote getters across the panel last year.
However, he did not include Ashcroft in his three votes on Saturday.
Ashcroft finished second in voting alongside teammate Dayne Zorko with six votes.
The 23-year-old would have joined Dustin Martin as only the second player since the award began in 1979 to have won it three times.
Votes breakdown
Shai Bolton – 10 votes (3,3,2,1,1)
Dayne Zorko – 6 votes (3,3)
Will Ashcroft – 6 votes (3,2,1)
Caleb Serong – 4 votes (2,2)
Hayden Young – 3 votes (2,1)
Charlie Cameron – 1 votes (1)
Votes by each panellist
Andrew McLeod (Chair)
3 – Dayne Zorko (BRI)
2 – Hayden Young (FRE)
1 – Shai Bolton (FRE)
Shaun Burgoyne
3 – Dayne Zorko (BRI)
2 – Shai Bolton (FRE)
1 – Hayden Young (FRE)
Chris Judd
3 – Shai Bolton (FRE)
2 – Will Ashcroft (BRI)
1 – Charlie Cameron (BRI)
Michael Voss
3 – Shai Bolton (FRE)
2 – Caleb Serong (FRE)
1 – Will Ashcroft (BRI)
Lauren Wood
3 – Will Ashcroft (BRI)
2 – Caleb Serong (FRE)
1 – Shai Bolton (FRE)
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It is impossible for the voting panel to please everyone, even on the years where they are applauded for getting it right in the eyes of the masses.
However, the calls made on Saturday have not sat well with some footy commentators.
Fox Footy’s Gerrard Whateley said on SEN: “It’s always difficult to cast judgment on other people’s votes
“How (Will) Ashcroft hasn’t won this, because usually when history’s on offer, you only have to be equal and the nod goes your way, and he’s had the best of his three grand finals.
“He has been one of the two central figures in the greatest come-from-behind victory we’ve seen in the last five minutes of a Grand Final, and somehow he hadn’t managed to get the votes.
“I’m absolutely perplexed by it.”
Veteran sport commentator Jim Wilson called the 3-2-1 voting system “archaic”.
“What a GF and feel for Freo, with respect to Bolton, but he wasn’t the best player on the ground and the voting system and timings are flawed, fix it,” he wrote on X.
Popular Aussie sport commentator Brenton Speed also wrote: “Will Ashcroft one of the greatest players ever! Clear best on! Should have 3 Norms.
“How often did a touch of his lead to something good/great?! All Australian selectors & Norm Smith panel have had a mare.”
Fox Footy’s Max Laughton noted Bolton was the 15th-rated player on the ground in the AFL Player Ratings.
Many fans have taken to social media to point out Bolton would have still been a worthy winner if not for Brisbane’s four minutes of magic.
The man himself was downcast as he accepted the medal and took it off around his neck as he walked off the podium.
Ashcroft, meanwhile, has plenty to celebrate, even without the Norm Smith around his neck.
“I honestly didn’t think about (the Norm Smith Medal). The other two games the last couple of years because we were so far ahead, it popped in my mind a bit more. But today it was just, f*** we are in trouble, lets just get back in front. I didn’t care,” Ashcroft said, according to Code Sports.
“I am not sure what the voting was. I haven’t seen anything. The goal is to win a premiership and whatever is required for me and my teammates, I will do it.
“If that means a Norm Smith, great, but I am not too bothered by it.”
Originally published as AFL Grand Final image causes stir as medal storm erupts over votes