Who Won The Norm Smith Medal 2025?
Will Ashcroft took home the Norm Smith Medal in 2025, and if you’re thinking, “Wait, wasn’t he just a rookie the other day?” well, you’re not alone. Just 21, Ashcroft managed to pull off his second consecutive win for best afield on the biggest stage of AFL, pulling the spotlight his way on Grand Final day, and honestly, it’s hard not to be a little in awe. Brisbane fans will be retelling the tale of when Will stormed the Grand Final like he owned the joint for years, probably at every backyard BBQ until the sausages burn.
On Twitter, Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) reported that Will Ashcroft won the Norm Smith Medal with 13 votes, even while injured. Andrews came in second with 6 votes, and Bailey finished third with 5 votes.
But Ashcroft didn’t just win; he practically staged a repeat performance, gathering 32 possessions, a goal, and making a mess of Geelong’s clearances. Has the kid ever slept before a big match? Probably not maybe just spent the week bingeing on motivational YouTube videos and midnight meat pies.
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How Did He Win? Things Got Spicy
Ashcroft didn’t just collect the medal with a polite handshake; he outshone big names like Harris Andrews, Charlie Cameron, and Hugh McCluggage. According to the official votes, the tally went like this:
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Will Ashcroft: 13 votes (from multiple judges, which is AFL’s polite way of saying no one else came close)
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Harris Andrews: 6 votes
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Zac Bailey: 5 votes
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Jaspa Fletcher: 3 votes
It’s not like these guys just pulled on their boots and wandered out Andrews was stoic in defence, Cameron racked up four snags when the heat was on, and Bailey had enough touches to fill a footy oval. But in the heat of the contest, when it felt like someone needed to grab the game by the collar, Ashcroft was the one.
Why Is Everyone Buzzing?
Back-to-back medals at 21? It’s bananas, honestly. People can barely manage two decent fantasy football lineups in consecutive weeks, let alone medals. There’s a bit of a running joke that by the time Ashcroft hits 25, the AFL will have to rename the award or give him his own stand at the MCG.
And being a multiple Norm Smith Medal winner already puts Ashcroft into a truly elite club: Dustin Martin, Andrew McLeod, Luke Hodge, and Gary Ayres, if you want to drop names at the pub. You can almost hear the Lions faithful plotting out a statue somewhere obscure but meaningful maybe right by the canteen.
Did He Actually Deserve It? Let’s Argue
Sure, some onlookers reckon Charlie Cameron or even McCluggage deserved a look-in. But let’s be honest: when the siren sounded, most fans knew it was Ashcroft’s game. Some even suggested that he could win five before his knees start to creak like an old timber deck during a Queensland summer.
A few supporters felt a bit nostalgic for defenders (Andrews getting a shoutout for being “like an impenetrable barrier”), but that’s how football goes sometimes midfielders hog the medals like kids at a lolly counter.
Final Thought: The Stuff of Legends
So Ashcroft’s Norm Smith win in 2025 isn’t just a stat it’s part of AFL folklore now. For those who watched it live, saw the tackles, the bursts, and those impossibly clever moments, it felt iconic. Maybe, years from now, fans will tell their kids about “the time Will Ashcroft made everyone believe anything was possible.” A little cheesy? Maybe. But hey, it’s footy and legendary moments are what keep the heart pumping.
