AFL coach of the century and six-time Melbourne premiership coach Norm Smith has been elevated to Legend of the Game status inthe Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Smith, who was also Melbourne's team of the century coach andfull-forward, becomes the 21st legend to be inducted into football's most elitegroup.
He joins Darrel Baldock, Ron Barassi, KevinBartlett, Haydn Bunton snr, Roy Cazaly, John Coleman, Gordon Coventry, JackDyer, Graham 'Polly' Farmer, Peter Hudson, Bill Hutchison, Leigh Matthews,James 'Jock' McHale, John Nicholls, Bob Pratt, Dick Reynolds, Barrie Robran,Bob Skilton, Ian Stewart and Ted Whitten as official legends of the game.
A revered figure, Smith was at the helmduring Melbourne'sgolden era, coaching the club to a hat-trick of premierships in 1955-56-57 andback-to-back success in 1959-60. He also coached Melbourne to the 1964 flag, its most recentpremiership.
Overall, Smith took Melbourne to 11 consecutive finals series,eight grand finals – including seven in a row, 1954 to 1960 – and to half ofthe club's overall premiership tally of 12 flags. He coached Melbourne between 1952 and 1967 in 307matches for 195 wins, 107 losses and five draws.
Born on November 21, 1914, he was recruitedfrom Northcote juniors and made his debut with Melbourne in 1935 at the age of 19.
He played 210 matches for the Demons over13 years, kicking 546 goals, winning the best and fairest awards in 1938 and1944 and captaining the side from 1945 to 1947.
He made his name as a fiery goalkicker for Melbourne. Either as aforward pocket or full-forward, he led the club's goalkicking on four occasions(1938-39-40-41). In 1940, his seven goals set a new League record for a GrandFinal, and in 1941 he topped the League tally with 86.
During his career he played for Victoria on twooccasions, booting seven goals. He also played district cricket,
Smith went to Fitzroy as captain-coach in1949-50, playing 17 matches and booting 26 goals. After hanging up his boots asa player, he continued as coach in 1951. His coaching record at Fitzroy was 55matches for 30 wins, 23 losses and two draws.
Back at Melbourne in 1952, he coached the Demonsuntil his shock sacking in 1965 – the year after their 12th premiership –although he was quickly reinstated in the job.
Smith's sacking before round 13, 1965 – viaa termination notice sent to his home – remains arguably the biggest footballstory of all time. But although he returned to Melbourne, his relationship with the club wasstrained, and his failure to get the team into the finals in 1965 was the firsttime it had missed since 1953.
Smith’s final year as Melbourne coach was 1967, and he was replacedby John Beckwith for 1968.
Smith later coached South Melbourne between1969 and 1972, taking the club to the 1970 finals, its first September outingsince 1945, before retiring after 1972 because of ill health. His coachingrecord with the Swans reads 87 matches for 26 wins and 61 losses.
Early in 1973, Smith assisted Ron Barassiwhen his star apprentice at Melbourne becamecoach of North Melbourne. But Smith's illhealth persisted and he died on July 29, 1973, at the age of 58.
In 1979 the league struck the first NormSmith Medal, given to the best player in the Grand Final. Wayne Harmes of Carlton – coincidentally,Norm Smith's great-nephew – was the first recipient.
Smith's brother, Len, also played 19matches with Melbournein 1934-35 and 76 games with Fitzroy between 1937 and 1943 and in 1945.
