29 Facts About Norm Smith

Norman Walter Smith was an Australian rules football player and coach in the Victorian Football League.

In 1996, Norm Smith was chosen as the coach of the AFL Team of the Century.

When scouts for VFL club Melbourne arrived at the Smith household to sign Len, Victor Smith suggested that young Norm might make the grade as well.

Melbourne were ambitiously rebuilding their side and Norm Smith made his debut under legendary coach Frank 'Checker' Hughes in 1935.

Ironically, while Norm Smith's career blossomed at Melbourne, brother Len failed to nail down a regular place and he moved to the VFA and later to Fitzroy to further his career.

Usually playing as full-forward, Norm Smith quickly developed an understanding with teammate Ron Baggott and earned a reputation as a cool-headed, "thinking" player.

Norm Smith favoured the pass to a man in a better position, the quick handball, the tap on and the shepherd for a teammate with the ball.

Norm Smith was one of many talented players who adhered to Hughes' doctrine.

Norm Smith enjoyed his most productive season and finished the year as the VFL's leading goalkicker.

Norm Smith continued playing during the war years in a decimated Melbourne team.

In 1944 Norm Smith won The Herald newspaper's best player award.

Norm Smith was appointed captain of the club in 1945, leading the Demons to their first Grand Final defeat in 1946.

Poor form and a loss of confidence led to Norm Smith resigning the captaincy for 1948 and it seemed that, at 32, his career was winding down.

Anxious to begin coaching, Norm Smith made an emotionally difficult decision to transfer to Fitzroy as captain-coach.

Norm Smith played only seventeen games with the 'Roys before retiring as a player in 1950.

Norm Smith's time at Fitzroy was a mixed bag: the team was competitive without making the finals.

Norm Smith built his success on an espirit de corps, creating close-knit teams during Melbourne's years of greatness that were the envy of the other eleven clubs.

Norm and Len Smith led the move toward a quicker, play-on style of football.

Melbourne sides under Norm Smith were fast, disciplined, fit and confident.

Norm Smith supported Barassi's aspirations, offering to stand aside so Barassi could coach Melbourne.

When Barassi rejected that proposal and insisted on a clearance to the Blues, some Melbourne officials unfairly accused Norm Smith of ridding himself of a potential rival.

In defending the action, Norm Smith found no support from the men running his club.

Norm Smith made an emotional appearance on television on the Sunday and speculation was rife that he would replace his ill brother, then coaching Richmond.

At Albert Park, Norm Smith pulled off what was considered one of his best coaching performances by taking the downtrodden Swans to the 1970 semi-final, their first finals appearance since 1945.

Norm Smith was only 57 when he died of a cerebral tumour at his home in Pascoe Vale on 29 July 1973.

Norm Smith increased the importance of the coach in Australian football with innovations such as using a runner to send messages to his players.

Norm Smith raised the standards of fitness and team discipline, which enabled the evolution of the so-called "running game" in the 1970s.

On 19 July 2007, Norm Smith was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame as a playing Legend.

In 1979, the VFL instituted the Norm Smith Medal, awarded to the best player in the Grand Final.