Collingwood Grand Final hero ‘disrespected’ in medal ceremony

Kane Cornes has started a furore after going back and spotting the one Collingwood star that was brutally “disrespected” on Grand Final day.

Jordan De Goey, Josh Daicos, Bobby Hill, Tom Mitchell and Nick Daicos of the Magpies celebrate. Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Collingwood midfielder Tom Mitchell was unfairly snubbed in Norm Smith Medal voting, Kane Cornes has declared.

Mitchell had the ball on a string during the Magpies’ enthralling victory over the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Saturday

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Now Cornes has pointed out Mitchell was surprisingly low down in voting for the best-on-ground award.

Bobby Hill won the medal in a unanimous vote after he tore the Lions apart with four first half goals.

But it is the lesser votes that earlier this week attracted Cornes’ eye.

“I thought Tom Mitchell was a little disrespected in the Norm Smith medal voting,” Cornes said on AFL Trade Radio.

“He was outstanding.”

Norm Smith Medal voting

15 – B. Hill, Collingwood – 33333

5 – K. Coleman, Brisbane Lions – 221

4 – N. Daicos. Collingwood – 22

3 – T. Mitchell, Collingwood – 21

2 – J. Crisp, Collingwood – 11

1 – S. Pendlebury, Collingwood – 1

AFL Media’s Sarah Olle, who was among the five-person panel to vote on the award admitted she couldn’t find a way to get Mitchell into her votes.

Judges voting (3, 2, 1):
Luke Darcy (Chair) – B. Hill, N. Daicos, S. Pendlebury
Eddie Betts – B. Hill, T. Mitchell, K. Coleman
Jude Bolton – B. Hill, K. Coleman, T. Mitchell
Sarah Olle – B.Hill, K.Coleman, J.Crisp
Luke Shuey – B.Hill, N.Daicos, J.Crisp

— AFL House (@AFL_House) September 30, 2023

“Tom Mitchell had an incredible game and I didn’t give him any votes,” Olle said on Trade Radio this week.

“He ended up with three from the panel.

“The other one was Scott Pendlebury, who ended up with one vote. I thought he was sensational in that final term. But at the end of the day, everyone gave Bobby Hill three votes. So the twos and the ones, it’s a nice accolade to have five or four or three votes against your name for a Norm Smith. “

Winners are grinners. Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Mitchell finished with 24 disposals, but it was his work in the thick of contested ball moments where he made his biggest impact, finishing with seven clearances and 13 tackles.

Meanwhile, the AFL’s premiership medal debate has dominated discussions in recent days after Taylor Adams and Dan McStay both missed out on medals as a result of injuries, despite being essential figures in the Pies’ 2023 campaign.

Every year there are hard luck stories in Grand Final week, with key players heartbreakingly denied the ultimate premiership glory by injury, selection or form.

The sight of hard-nosed midfielder Adams in tears after the Magpies’ triumph broke the hearts of footy fans everywhere.

It’s sparked calls for premiership medals to be given to either a club’s entire playing list, or at least those who played a game at some point during the season.

“They were a big reason why we were there, without Dan McStay kicking two goals in the prelim we probably don’t make it (to the grand final),” Collingwood’s Mason Cox told the Herald Sun.

Isaac Quaynor of the Magpies and Tom Mitchell. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“It is frustrating to not see them have a medal around their neck to be honest. I would change it in a heartbeat. Without them we are not in this situation.

“To have that happen (to McStay) in a prelim is f***ing shattering.”

“Guys like John Noble and Tay Adams, it is something you wouldn’t wish on the worst person.

“I don’t know what the ruling would be but it just seems wrong to not have them with a medal.”

Gerard Whateley said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360: “We have a tyranny that it’s only for the 23.”

Magpies coach Craig McRae said he was open minded to more medals being handed out, adding he believed the wider coaching group should also be recognised.

“I’m definitely of the view, we don’t make the Grand Final without Dan McStay,” McRae said on AFL 360.

“My feeling is they should get a medal. To what length, I’m not sure. I’ll leave others to debate that. But I think if you played a game in the season that should be a measurement of it. Dan McStay, Taylor Adams, John Noble — that cup isn’t there without them.

“I think the same for coaches. They gave this (the Jock McHale Medal) to me on stage and I haven’t worn it since because it doesn’t represent all the coaches.

“It’s ridiculous that the industry just sees me as the reason. That cup is representative of all our staff. Players get medals and win premierships, but staff set them up to succeed.”