Norm Smith
Melbourne and Fitzroy · “Demon Dictator, Martinet of Melbourne, Red Fox”
AFL career
227 games572 goals
- Debut
- R15 1935 v RCH17 Aug 1935
- Most recent
- R10 1950 v GEE24 June 1950
Coaching career
452 games253 wins192 losses7 draws
- First
- R1 1949 v STK16 Apr 1949
- Most recent
- R22 1972 v RCH2 Sept 1972
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Clifton Hill, Norm Smith debuted for Melbourne in 1935 and rapidly developed into one of the most formidable key forwards of his generation. While his older brother Len also carved out a respected VFL career, Norm became the spiritual leader of the Demons, utilising a blend of tactical nous and physical imposition to dominate at both centre half-forward and full-forward. A natural leader who demanded excellence, he was instrumental in Melbourne's four premierships between 1939 and 1948, frequently topping the club's goalkicking table and captaining the side during his final years at the MCG.
In a move that signaled the beginning of his legendary off-field career, Smith transferred to Fitzroy in 1949 to serve as captain-coach. He played two seasons with the Maroons before retiring from on-field duties to focus solely on coaching. While he is best remembered today as the six-time premiership coach of the Team of the Century and the namesake of the Grand Final's best-on-ground medal, his playing record remains elite in its own right, defined by a ferocious will to win that set the standard for the modern game.
Profile
- Full name
- Norman Walter Smith
- Born
- 21 Nov 1915
- Died
- 29 July 1973 (aged 57y 250d)
- Birthplace
- Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Victoria
- Deathplace
- Pascoe Vale, Melbourne, Victoria
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 81 kg
Teams
Coaching
- Fitzroy (Senior Coach)1949–195155 games (W30 L23 D2), 54.5%
- South Melbourne (Senior Coach)1969–197287 games (W26 L61 D0), 29.9%
Honours
- Premiership(4×) 1939, 1940, 1941, 1948
- Hall of Fame Legend2007
- Hall of Fame1996
- Melbourne B&F(2×) 1938, 1944
- Melbourne captain(3×) 1945, 1946, 1947
- Fitzroy captain(2×) 1949, 1950
Family
- Son:Peter Smith
- Brother:Len Smith
- Great-nephew:Wayne Harmes
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Clifton Hill, Norm Smith debuted for Melbourne in 1935 and rapidly developed into one of the most formidable key forwards of his generation. While his older brother Len also carved out a respected VFL career, Norm became the spiritual leader of the Demons, utilising a blend of tactical nous and physical imposition to dominate at both centre half-forward and full-forward. A natural leader who demanded excellence, he was instrumental in Melbourne's four premierships between 1939 and 1948, frequently topping the club's goalkicking table and captaining the side during his final years at the MCG.
In a move that signaled the beginning of his legendary off-field career, Smith transferred to Fitzroy in 1949 to serve as captain-coach. He played two seasons with the Maroons before retiring from on-field duties to focus solely on coaching. While he is best remembered today as the six-time premiership coach of the Team of the Century and the namesake of the Grand Final's best-on-ground medal, his playing record remains elite in its own right, defined by a ferocious will to win that set the standard for the modern game.