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AFL grand final: Melbourne Demons midfielder Christian Petracca named 2021 Norm Smith Medallist after collecting a record 40 disposals

Eliza Reilly & Chris RobinsonThe West Australian
Christian Petracca celebrates.
Camera IconChristian Petracca celebrates. Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian

After his power and poise broke the Bulldogs, Christian Petracca broke down in tears - if only for a moment - as the gravity of his and the Demons’ achievement started to sink in.

The Norm Smith medal as we know it wasn’t even awarded when Melbourne last won a grand final in 1964, but Petracca was a more than worthy recipient of the Dees’ first in a history-making performance.

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He equalled Simon Black’s total of 39 in the 2003 grand final with minutes to spare, romping to the medal after earning a perfect score from judges.

The Game AFL 2024

Petracca said it had been an emotional aftermath to the game.

“A few tears from myself – a few tears from everyone to be honest,” he said.

“This game is just an emotional game and I am so grateful to be a part of a footy club that has invested so much in me off the field as well as on the field.

“To be a part of this club is unreal.”

Petracca paid tribute to fitness coach Darren Burgess in setting up the team’s ability to close out games.

“We knew we were probably the fittest team in the AFL,” he said. “

And from our leaders as well. Gawny and Viney and we have created the culture for three or four years now. We get belief off that. “

“The selfless nature of Gawny to keep himself out of the ruck and keep (Luke Jackson) in there – two or three years ago people wouldn’t have done that but to have that cultural switch now is why we have got medals around our neck.”

Petracca kicked the first goal of the day and ignited 61,118 spectators, their cheers seemingly unlocking an undiscovered gear 127 games into his Demons tenure.

The stat line reads like a man who simply refused to walk away empty handed – 24 contested possessions, two goals, 11 inside 50s, nine clearances, eight intercept possessions, 896 metres gained.

Christian Petracca was superb.
Camera IconChristian Petracca was superb. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

The dribbling goal from the pocket in the third quarter, the chase down tackle when his side was 48 points up in the last, or the spinning pirouette out of trouble to find Tom McDonald on his own inside 50 which ended in Melbourne’s fifth straight goal of the final quarter.

The 25-year-old has formed an everlasting bond with the big stage that won’t end anytime soon.

Pick two in the 2014 draft, hype has always followed Petracca.

He had a racehorse named after him before he was on an AFL list but the mystique was disrupted when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his debut season.

But the rise is complete.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Christian Petracca of the Demons kicks the ball during the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Camera IconChristian Petracca collected a record 40 disposals in a grand final. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Bayley Fritsch, donning Ron Barassi’s mystical number 31, was a worthy understudy with six goals – the first man to do so since Darren Jarman for Adelaide in 1997.

But Petracca had inscribed his name on the medal well before Fritsch kicked his sixth, willing the game in Melbourne’s favour when the result was in doubt.

“To WA, thanks for putting on an amazing show,” Petracca bellowed to the crowd post-match.

But it’s Petracca we have to thank.

NORM SMITH MEDAL VOTING:

Luke Hodge (Chair) – C Petracca, B Fritsch, C Oliver

Harry Taylor – C Petracca, B Fritsch, C Salem

Tania Armstrong – C Petracca, B Fritsch, C Oliver

Andrew Krakouer – C Petracca, B Fritsch, C Daniel

Callum Twomey – C Petracca, B Fritsch, C Oliver

TOTALS

15 - Christian Petracca, Melbourne - 33333

10 - Bayley Fritsch - 22222

3 - Clayton Oliver - 111

1 - Christian Salem - 1

1 - Caleb Daniel - 1

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