Norm Smith Medal Tips, Odds & Predictions

Betting Tips

Sydney and Brisbane clash for the AFL premiership in Saturday's Grand Final and we’ve made our selections for the Norm Smith Medal winner for best on ground.

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Norm Smith Medal 2026 | Odds, Tips & Predictions

The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to the best player in the AFL Grand Final. Named after legendary Melbourne coach Norm Smith, the medal is one of the most coveted individual awards in Australian football.

The 2026 finals are under way, and Norm Smith Medal betting opens once the two Grand Final teams are known at the end of the preliminary finals. The Grand Final is Saturday 26 September 2026 at the MCG.

Norm Smith Medal 2026 Odds

Norm Smith Medal odds become available once the Grand Final teams are confirmed at the end of the preliminary finals, so the market is not yet framed. The 2026 finals began with the new Wildcard Round and run five weeks to the Grand Final on 26 September. Track the contenders on our AFL premiership odds page.

Historically, midfielders and key forwards who deliver match-winning performances on Grand Final day take home the medal, and players from the winning team are strongly favoured, though it has occasionally gone to a player from the losing side. Will Ashcroft has won the last two, which is the first back-to-back since the award was introduced in 1979 and a useful reminder that the market underrates a proven big-game midfielder.

Compare Norm Smith Medal odds across Picklebet, Dabble, Neds, Ladbrokes and bet365 once the Grand Final teams are set.

How the Norm Smith Medal Works

A panel of judges awards votes throughout the AFL Grand Final. The player judged to have been the best on ground receives the medal at the post-match presentation. The voting takes place in real time during the game, making it one of the most dramatic individual awards in Australian sport.

Norm Smith Medal Betting Markets

Winner: Bet on which player will win the Norm Smith Medal. Odds are released once Grand Final teams are confirmed.

Winning Team Player: Some bookmakers offer separate markets for the best player from each team, giving you an edge if you can predict the game’s standout performer.

Recent Norm Smith Medal Winners

Year Player Team
2025 Will Ashcroft Brisbane Lions
2024 Will Ashcroft Brisbane Lions
2023 Bobby Hill Collingwood
2022 Isaac Smith Geelong
2021 Christian Petracca Melbourne
2020 Dustin Martin Richmond
2019 Marlion Pickett Richmond
2018 Luke Shuey West Coast
2017 Dustin Martin Richmond

 

For more AFL betting coverage, visit our AFL hub for tips, odds and predictions throughout the 2026 season.