Shai Bolton wins Norm Smith Medal in losing Grand Final
Shai Bolton won the Norm Smith Medal with 26 disposals, most for Fremantle, in the losing side.
Shai Bolton became just the fifth player in Norm Smith Medal history to win the award in a losing Grand Final, and the first to do so in 21 years. Bolton finished with 26 disposals, 10 contested possessions, nine score involvements and seven marks as Fremantle fell to Brisbane.
Shai Bolton joins Chris Judd, Nathan Buckley, Gary Ablett snr and Maurice Rioli in the rare club. The voting was tight: Bolton and Dayne Zorko both received three votes from two judges each, while Will Ashcroft, who won the previous two, finished equal second.
All five judges gave Bolton votes.
- 26
- Disposals
- 21
- Years since last winner
- All 5
- Judge votes for Bolton
- 5
- Total medal winners in losing team
Why it mattersWinning best on ground in a losing Grand Final is extraordinary, it recognises individual brilliance in defeat and happens once every two decades.
AustraliaThis is the 2026 AFL Grand Final result, the biggest match of Australia's footy season, and Bolton's performance became an instant talking point across the country.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 38 min ago
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