Tom Boyd has arrived, and Age readers believe his career breakout game - in a drought-breaking AFL premiership no less - should have been rewarded with a Norm Smith Medal.
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He only got votes from three of the five members of the Norm Smith Medal panel for his 14-possession and eight-mark game, but few were in doubt that his performance in the second half signalled his arrival as a new star of the AFL.
More than 15,000 voted on their choice for best on ground honours in the Fairfax Media poll and 38% of respondents lobbed for the former GWS Giants forward as their No.1 pick.
The actual medallist, Jason Johannisen, and his Bulldogs teammate Liam Picken were next in line, both receiving 20% of the votes each.
The Norm Smith panel gave Johannisen a total of 10 votes (three votes twice and two votes twice), ahead of Swan Josh Kennedy (8) and Boyd (7).
Kennedy, a star in the first half of the grand final with 22 touches, was the only player to receive at least one vote from all five members of the panel.
Norm Smith Medal voting:
10 Jason Johannisen, Western Bulldogs - 3, 3, 2, 2
8 Josh Kennedy, Sydney Swans - 3, 2, 1, 1, 1
7 Tom Boyd, Western Bulldogs - 3, 1, 3
5 Liam Picken, Western Bulldogs - 2, 2, 1
Judges
Michael Voss (Sen 1116) - Johannisen, Picken, Kennedy.
Jay Clark (Herald Sun) - Kennedy, Johannisen, Picken.
Brad Johnson (Fox Footy) - Johannisen, Kennedy, Boyd.
Emma Quayle (The Age) - Boyd, Johannisen, Kennedy.
Wayne Carey (Channel 7) - Boyd, Picken, Kennedy.
