AFL Grand Final 2020: Leigh Matthews explains how Richmond’s Nathan Broad ended up in his Norm Smith Medal votes
AFL great Leigh Matthews has explained his decision to award Richmond’s Nathan Broad two Norm Smith Medal votes after mistaking one of his teammates for the Tigers key defender.
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AFL legend Leigh Matthews has made the astonishing confession that he mixed up his Norm Smith Medal voting and accidentally handed Nathan Broad two votes.
Richmond champion Dustin Martin was given the maximum three votes by all five Norm Smith judges to a win a historic third medal in four seasons.
But eyebrows were raised when Nathan Broad was handed two votes by Matthews despite a low-key game with eight disposals and two marks.
Matthews said on Sunday he wanted to vote for defender Jayden Short, whose exceptional contest involved him gaining 771 metres with his booming right foot as he amassed 25 possessions.
Martin won with 15 votes from Short’s six, with Shane Edwards polling four votes, Mitch Duncan three and Broad two.
“All I can say is that’s the worst mistake that has ever happened because if I put down the name Broad instead of the name Short when I was being hustled at the end of the game,” Matthews said on Channel 9.
“At the end of the game you have got to write down the names quickly.”
2020 Norm Smith Medal Votes
— aflratings.com.au (@aflratings) October 24, 2020
15 Dustin Martin
6 Jayden Short
4 Shane Edwards
3 Mitch Duncan
2 Nathan Broad#AFL #AFLGF
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“I’m glad (Nathan) Broad didn’t not win or (Jayden) Short missed out by a couple of votes ... I didn’t see the other voting, but I’m sure everyone gave (Dustin) Martin best on ground that was so obvious.
“I guess the twos and ones don’t matter that much. But if I put Broad down that was a very big mistake on my part.
“(It should have been) Short, 2, and (Shane) Edwards 1.”
The AFL has ensured voters are allowed until the final siren to decide after controversy over Nathan Buckley’s Norm Smith Medal in 2002.
Voters were asked to hand over their decision with 10 minutes remaining but Michael Voss had a scintillating last 10 minutes which turned the game.
Age columnist Robert Walls, ABC radio commentator Dwayne Russell and West Australian journalist Mark Duffield all said later they would have included Voss in their votes after his brilliant final minutes.
None of them voted Voss best on ground.
‘UNSTOPPABLE’ MARTIN LEAVES CATS IN HIS WAKE
— Sam Landsberger
Dustin Martin’s eyes darted around. He tapped his fingers on the table.
Martin could barely sit still. He bit his nails, scratched his face and at one stage even let out a sigh of impatience.
Seated next to coach Damien Hardwick for Richmond’s post-match press conference, this was not Martin’s natural habitat.
The 17-minute interview probably lasted about 17 minutes too long for ‘Dusty’.
Instead he belongs on the grass. Gabba or MCG, day or night, it doesn’t really matter.
Martin simply belongs in Grand Finals.
Hardwick said the Tigers “couldn’t buy a goal” deep in the first half, and then Martin – again – paid his way with a ridiculous snap.
“It was an important goal. Geelong held sway for the vast majority of the second quarter,” Hardwick said.
“That’s what great players do. They take their opportunities and they get the job done and that’s why he sits here with his third Norm Smith, really.”
Cats coach Chris Scott said Martin was “unstoppable in some situations”.
That first goal was one of them.
Martin’s third goal, when he sat back at a contest, broke a Mark O’Connor tackle and bounced one through from 60m, was another one.
Martin’s fourth goal, when he intercepted a Mark Blicavs tackle and shredded a Patrick Dangerfield tackle before snapping truly from the boundary line was another one.
“I didn’t even realise he kicked four,” Hardwick said.
“The significance of his goals were really important.”
But the byplay between Hardwick and Martin was even more entertaining than their formal responses.
“I’m getting sick of doing this with you,” Hardwick joked as they sat down, with Martin joining all three Grand Final pressers as the winner of the Norm Smith Medal.
“I don’t,” Martin replied to Hardwick.
When Martin was asked whether the Gabba now held special meaning, his coach cut off his answer.
“I think Queensland will. Beautiful weather …” Martin started.
“ … settle down,” Hardwick interjected.
“You’re still contracted for how long?”
Until 2024, Dimma, and on an $8.75 million contract that is probably the best cash Richmond has ever spent.
Then, Martin turned serious. What did Hardwick mean to him?
“Where do I start?” Martin said.
“The care that he’s got for his players … ever since we started together 10 years ago he’s almost (been) like a second father to a lot of us.
“He’s a friend first and then a coach second and I couldn’t be anymore grateful.
“He’s helped me become a better person and, along with all the other boys as well, we’ll walk away from this footy club as better people.”
As Martin spoke, Hardwick locked his eyes forward and — unsuccessfully –— tried to hide a proud grin, a twinkle flashing in his eye.
That care was on show only a few minutes earlier.
A battered and bruised Martin had to drag his own chair behind the table after the AFL forgot to place a second one next to Hardwick’s.
“He’s won three Norm Smiths and he has to get his own chair … (expletive),” Hardwick quipped.
Then, as Hardwick spoke about suspended pair Sydney Stack and Callum Coleman-Jones, Martin’s interest suddenly piqued.
“They made a mistake, but they’re Richmond men,” Hardwick said.
“They’ll learn from it, we’ll get them back in the fold (and) they’re going to be good players for us.”
Martin nodded in agreement at each and every word.
Then, he went back to jovial.
“We’re humble and we’re hungry,” Martin said.
“Success is awesome — we’ll enjoy this one and we’ll be looking forward to pre-season again in … February, is it?”
Hardwick: “For you it is, yeah.”
After the 2017 flag, Dusty said he had a patch on his leg reserved for a premiership tattoo that never came.
It’s probably a good thing, because there are at least two more years to add.
“George (Jason Castagna) brought his tattoo gun up so I dare say he’ll be getting that out tomorrow,” Martin said.
“The key forwards battled their arse off tonight to bring the ball to ground and I was just in the right place.”
Martin and Hardwick walked across the Gabba after the press conference.
Hardwick pored over the stats sheet … one handball for Nick Vlastuin, won the centre clearances by six.
Martin bellowed out: “Riewoldt!” and held out three fingers to Jack, his fellow three-time premiership forward.
Before the Tigers sang their song, Martin held a beer stubby in his left hand and used his right hand to usher “everyone” into the circle.
Geelong was hoping Martin would spray his shots and instead he sprayed that beer once the lyrics started, shaking it right across the Gabba rooms in celebration.
At 11.40pm he helped gather the Tigers in the Gabba centre circle for another two (yes, two) renditions of the famous song.
Another Grand Final, done and Dusted.
THE DON’T ARGUE WHICH CHANGED A GRAND FINAL
– Jay Clark
It was the trademark “don’t argue” which helped clinch the dynasty.
Rewind back to the second term and Richmond was staggering on the ropes down by 21 points with two minutes left before half time.
Then came “Dusty’.
That’s Dustin Martin the best big-game player of our generation, perhaps of all time.
The only man to win three Norm Smith Medals after another four-goal demolition job on Geelong in Saturday night’s Grand Final.
The man, who right when Richmond needed someone to rescue them before the main break, produced one of those signature superhero moments that turned the tide in the premiership decider.
RECAP: EVERY MOMENT OF THE 2020 AFL GRAND FINAL
MATCH REPORT: HOW THE TIGERS WON THIRD FLAG IN FOUR YEARS
Roving the pack at full tilt, Martin reeled the ball in with his right and then with his left hand planted one of his famous shoves in the middle of Jake Kolodjashnij’s chest.
And then somehow, keeping balance as only he can, Martin flipped the ball on to his foot to curl home the snap that reignited the Richmond fire, when Geelong had them by the throat.
Straight away, Brisbane Lions’ champion Michael Voss said “what a moment” as the Tigers went into the halftime break with some Martin-inspired momentum.
But, to be honest, who is surprised? No one.
The 29-year-old tattooed superstar owns this stage.
Said Luke Hodge on the Channel 7 broadcast: “He stood up for them in the second quarter right when they (Tigers) needed, when Geelong had that burst.”
“We didn’t think we could talk more highly about this bloke but he comes into a shortened game and kicks four goals, really important goals as well.”
While it has often been said Martin straps on his cape for the big ones, when has he ever really taken it off? There will be a statue, somewhere, around Punt Rd after he winds up.
Martin’s done it in September, and now he’s produced the magic right throughout October.
Extraordinarily, Martin has been best-on-ground in the Tigers’ three finals wins after carving up Port Adelaide (21 disposals and two goals) and St Kilda (25 and one) in the past two.
It’s why Martin’s shadow loomed so large over this one, and after a quiet-ish-start in the first term and two early changes of boots, he dominated the second half.
He kept his feet when players crashed like waves upon him in the third term to slot his second major with a right-foot banana to put Richmond’s nose ahead by three points.
Then in the last term it was party time when he slotted his fourth from the pocket. Martin was just more clean, more powerful. And predictably clutch when the pressure was at its highest.
Teammate Shane Edwards was in awe of a third Grand Final masterclass.
“He had it (Norm Smith) before the game I reckon,” Edwards said.
“He is just an amazing player to play with and I’ll look back and just cherish every game I have played with him.”
Kolodjashnij had an unenviable task given the huge job of trying to stop the one-man wrecking crew.
NORM SMITH HISTORY: ALL THE DUAL WINNERS
But when Richmond’s man-of-the-moment stepped into the centre square in the third term Martin helped wrestle back control of the game in the guts.
The heroics gave a unique season a familiar finish and Martin celebrated in style with teammates and his coaches after the game.
He was presented the medal from Port Adelaide great Byron Pickett and thanked the Cats “for an awesome game”.
“You are an awesome club and well done to Gaz on an unbelievable career,” Martin said.
“To the AFL, Toyota and The Government (thank you) but last but not least the footy club “let’s go”.
Martin said the Tigers’ resilience shone through during a testing year and admitted it was hard to control his emotions after sinking his fourth goal in the last term.
“It was probably a bit too early to carry on, I was a bit worried,” Martin said.
“I have so much love for this club.
“It’s been a different year but I love all of my teammates and my coaches and staff and I just want to give a quick shout-out to my old man (Shane) in New Zealand.
“I know he is watching and I love you heaps, Dad.
“I am just so grateful to be part of such an unbelievable group.”
NORM SMITH MEDAL VOTING
15 – Dustin Martin, Richmond – 33333
6 – Jayden Short – 222
4 – Shane Edwards – 1111
3 – Mitch Duncan – 21
2 – Nathan Broad – 2
JUDGES VOTING – 3 2 1.
Leigh Matthews (Chair) – D Martin, N Broad, S Edwards
Lauren Arnell – D Martin, J Short, M Duncan
Malcolm Blight – D Martin, M Duncan, S Edwards
Damian Barrett – D Martin, J Short, S Edwards
Peter Ryan – D Martin, J Short, S Edwards
MORE GRAND FINAL
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AFL Grand Final 2020: Patrick Dangerfield cleared after brutal collision with Nick Vlastuin