Geelong winger Isaac Smith has become the oldest Norm Smith Medallist in VFL/AFL history, saving one of the best games of his career for the biggest stage of all.
Key points:
- Isaac Smith said he was “in shock” after the game at how well his Geelong side had played
- Patrick Dangerfield paid tribute to his captain and coach Joel Selwood and Chris Scott after the victory
- Smith said the culture at Geelong and the “balance” afforded the players allowed them to play their best
The 33-year-old Smith beat Patrick Dangerfield to the medal on the back of a 32-disposal, three-goal game.
One of a number of Cats veterans that many had written off before the season as past their best, Smith took particular pleasure in proving the team’s doubters wrong.
“A few people were writing us silver foxes off, but there’s still a little bit in the tank,” Smith told Channel Seven.
“I’m still in a little bit of shock to be honest. That was an unbelievable performance by the boys.”
Smith won three premierships with Hawthorn last decade before joining Geelong ahead of the 2021 season.
He paid tribute to the club culture at the Cats, which he says helped foster the environment for this success.
“They’re an unbelievable club. The culture is talked about a hell of a lot,” Smith said.
“They’ve got great balance between being professional but enjoying your footy, and spending a lot of time doing other things. I’m very fortunate I’ve been at two unbelievable football clubs, and I consider myself very lucky.”
Dangerfield reaches the summit at last
Having come so close to premiership glory in 2020, when Geelong lost the grand final to Richmond, Dangerfield finally has a flag to his name.
One of the most decorated players in the game, he said it took the entire club to come together over a number of years to clear this final hurdle.
“It’s a special feeling. It’s more than just the 23 that played today, it’s the whole club,” Dangerfield told ABC Sport.
“It’s all our players and all our staff. It’s been a tough couple of years with COVID and the job cuts across the industry, but I’m so proud of our organisation.
“There were slight adjustments. I don’t think we [have] been all that poor over the last six years, no one has won more games than us.
“But it’s nice to cap it off with this win and have a season where it feels like we fulfilled what we set out to do, which is of course what we did.”
Dangerfield made particular mention of his captain and coach, Joel Selwood and Chris Scott, for their influence on Geelong’s triumph.
“If I could sum [Selwood] up in one word, he just has this will. This will to win, this will to compete. This will to lead this team like no other,” Dangerfield said.
“He’s such a special person and it’s a privilege to play with him and under him.
“We’ve got a great captain obviously, but [also] an incredible coach who has copped a bit over the years. I don’t understand why, and now he clearly sits for mine on the Mount Rushmore for the greatest ever.”
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
