Bolton became the first player in a losing team to win the medal since Chris Judd in 2006. <\/p>\n
Fremantle was still ahead in the game with 74 seconds to play, but the Lions produced a comeback for the ages<\/a> to kick the final four goals of the game, prevailing 14.12 (96) to 12.7 (89).<\/p>\n While Bolton was a superstar for the Dockers throughout the game, Brisbane\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n Ashcroft\u2019s late blitz has led to widespread suggestions the voting panel got it wrong.<\/p>\n The panel is able to submit their votes after the final siren. <\/p>\n As it does every year, debate is raging about the votes given<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n It is not clear if the drink was alcoholic or non-alcoholic.<\/p>\n The image was shared by football fan Mick Cockering, who posted a comment that included a beer glass emoji.<\/p>\n \u201cIt all makes sense,\u201d he wrote. <\/p>\n Veteran sports journalist Ben Dorries responded to the image by writing: \u201cMcLeod warming up for chairing the Norm Smith voting panel by having a few frothies\u201d. <\/p>\n Another person said the image of McLeod was a \u201cclown show\u201d. <\/p>\n News.com.au has contacted the AFL for comment. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n However, he did not include Ashcroft in his three votes on Saturday. <\/p>\n Ashcroft finished second in voting alongside teammate Dayne Zorko with six votes.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Votes breakdown <\/p>\n Shai Bolton – 10 votes (3,3,2,1,1)<\/p>\n Dayne Zorko – 6 votes (3,3)<\/p>\n Will Ashcroft – 6 votes (3,2,1)<\/p>\n Caleb Serong – 4 votes (2,2)<\/p>\n Hayden Young – 3 votes (2,1)<\/p>\n Charlie Cameron – 1 votes (1)<\/p>\n Votes by each panellist<\/p>\n Andrew McLeod (Chair)<\/p>\n 3 – Dayne Zorko (BRI)<\/p>\n 2 – Hayden Young (FRE)<\/p>\n 1 – Shai Bolton (FRE)<\/p>\n Shaun Burgoyne<\/p>\n 3 – Dayne Zorko (BRI)<\/p>\n 2 – Shai Bolton (FRE)<\/p>\n 1 – Hayden Young (FRE)<\/p>\n Chris Judd<\/p>\n 3 – Shai Bolton (FRE)<\/p>\n 2 – Will Ashcroft (BRI)<\/p>\n 1 – Charlie Cameron (BRI)<\/p>\n Michael Voss<\/p>\n 3 – Shai Bolton (FRE)<\/p>\n 2 – Caleb Serong (FRE)<\/p>\n 1 – Will Ashcroft (BRI)<\/p>\n Lauren Wood<\/p>\n 3 – Will Ashcroft (BRI)<\/p>\n 2 – Caleb Serong (FRE)<\/p>\n 1 – Shai Bolton (FRE)<\/p>\n Download our new app <\/a>and never miss a headline<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n However, the calls made on Saturday have not sat well with some footy commentators. <\/p>\n Fox Footy\u2019s Gerrard Whateley said on SEN: \u201cIt\u2019s always difficult to cast judgment on other people\u2019s votes<\/p>\n \u201cHow (Will) Ashcroft hasn\u2019t won this, because usually when history\u2019s on offer, you only have to be equal and the nod goes your way, and he\u2019s had the best of his three grand finals.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has been one of the two central figures in the greatest come-from-behind victory we\u2019ve seen in the last five minutes of a Grand Final, and somehow he hadn\u2019t managed to get the votes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m absolutely perplexed by it.\u201d<\/p>\n Veteran sport commentator Jim Wilson called the 3-2-1 voting system \u201carchaic\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat a GF and feel for Freo, with respect to Bolton, but he wasn\u2019t the best player on the ground and the voting system and timings are flawed, fix it,\u201d he wrote on X. <\/p>\n Popular Aussie sport commentator Brenton Speed also wrote: \u201cWill Ashcroft one of the greatest players ever! Clear best on! Should have 3 Norms. <\/p>\n \u201cHow often did a touch of his lead to something good\/great?! All Australian selectors & Norm Smith panel have had a mare.\u201d<\/p>\n Fox Footy\u2019s Max Laughton noted Bolton was the 15th-rated player on the ground in the AFL Player Ratings.<\/p>\n Many fans have taken to social media to point out Bolton would have still been a worthy winner if not for Brisbane\u2019s four minutes of magic. <\/p>\n The man himself was downcast as he accepted the medal and took it off around his neck as he walked off the podium. <\/p>\n Ashcroft, meanwhile, has plenty to celebrate, even without the Norm Smith around his neck. <\/p>\n \u201cI honestly didn\u2019t 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\u2019t care,\u201d Ashcroft said, according to Code Sports<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cI am not sure what the voting was. I haven\u2019t seen anything. The goal is to win a premiership and whatever is required for me and my teammates, I will do it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf that means a Norm Smith, great, but I am not too bothered by it.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Treacy's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3210723982a9e93f0977823e5028f62f.jpeg\")
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