West Coast star Luke Shuey wins 2018 Norm Smith medal
IT’S the speech that struck a chord with Luke Shuey and inspired him to deliver on the biggest stage when his team needed it more than ever before to claim the Norm Smith Medal.
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IT’S the video that has inspired him and Luke Shuey this year watched it repeatedly.
It is the speech delivered to the West Coast Eagles players by Australian Test cricket great Justin Langer.
It struck a chord with Shuey, who used its key message to deliver his best when his team needed it more than ever before.
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The man they call “Boots” filled them on the game’s biggest stage, winning the Norm Smith Medal with a game-high 34 disposals, game-high 19 contested possessions, game-high eight inside 50s and an equal game-high eight score involvements.
Langer, an Eagles board member, spoke to the players 12 months ago. But Shuey hasn’t let it go.
“I got the tech heads at our club that do all the computer stuff to put it on the database that we can access as players,” Shuey said.
“I reckon I’ve watched it seven or eight times this year. He spoke about spirit and what drove him as a player.”
Shuey said Langer’s message was pertinent, believing he carried the burden of a poor finals series into the decider at the MCG against Collingwood.
But with Levi Greenwood targeting Elliot Yeo, Shuey was free to fly.
He started the game well and didn’t look back.
“I haven’t had a great finals, I don’t think. I’ve probably been below where I wanted to be as a player and the other guys have carried a fair load,” Shuey said.
“I haven’t carried my fair share and I had a fair idea (Levi) Greenwood was going to go to ‘Yeoy’ (Elliot Yeo) after his first final and I embraced that.
“You’ve got to enjoy these days. You’ve got to have a smile on your face when you run out because you never know when you’re going to get back here and fortunately today it paid off for us.”
In the space of two weeks, Shuey has welcomed son Oliver into the world with fiancee Danielle, won a premiership and a Norm Smith Medal.
The couple will wed next October.
“It’s been a big fortnight. This is a nice way to cap it off,” he said.
“She (Danielle) has been as big a part of this as anyone for me. I wish they were here, but I’ll bring it home to them.”
Parents David and Michelle were beaming in the Eagles rooms. But the Shuey’s are a family who have been touched by tragedy as much as joy.
Shuey’s sister Mel tragically died in 2009 when she was hit by a motorbike in Eltham in the early hours of the morning.
“Mel was looking down on him today,” mum Michelle said.
“She was a big footy fan. They were very, very close.”
Michelle said she was “absolutely stoked and proud” of her son, but also relieved.
“After 2015 this is just amazing,” she said.
“To have the siren go today and not see your son on the ground crying was fantastic. I love him to death. In the last quarter I was turning my back on the game. I couldn’t watch. It’s surreal.
“He will be busting to get home to see bubby. When they told me they were pregnant and he said they were due on September 25, I said ‘You didn’t plan that very well did you?’
“But it all worked out.”
Teammates spoke of Shuey as an excellent clubman.
“He gives as much to the first-year blokes as he does to the older guys like me. He spends time with everyone and he’s a terrific guy,” Will Schofield said.
Mark Hutchings said: “He’s a ripping fella and a great team man as well as his talent, which he brought today. He probably relished a bit of space.”
Rated a $13 chance with TAB before the game, Shuey shortened to $2.25 by three-quarter time and was an easy choice as best player on the ground.
Judges Gavin Wanganeen (chairman) and Wayne Carey, journalist Bridget Lacy and Sydney coach John Longmire awarded Shuey 11 votes, with Taylor Adams next on seven and Dom Sheed with four.
Only Wanganeen overlooked Shuey as best afield, going for Adams.
NORM SMITH MEDAL
11 — Luke Shuey (3, 3, 3, 2)
7 — Taylor Adams (3, 2, 2)
4 — Dom Sheed (2, 1, 1)
1 — Tom Langdon (1)
1 — Jeremy McGovern (1)
HOW THE JUDGES VOTED
Gavin Wanganeen (1993 Brownlow medallist, chairman)
3. T.Adams
2. L.Shuey
1. J.McGovern
Wayne Carey (North Melbourne champion)
3. L.Shuey
2. T.Adams
1. D.Sheed
Bridget Lacy (West Australian journalist)
3. L.Shuey
2. T.Adams
1. D.Sheed
John Longmire (Sydney coach)
3. L.Shuey
2. T.Adams
1. T.Langdon
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