Norm Smith call should’ve flipped as Swans superstar, forwards all flop

Was Lachie Neale robbed of another addition to his trophy cabinet? The dual Brownlow medallist was the best player on the ground in Brisbane’s 2024 Grand Final win, according to the AFL Player Ratings, but finished second to young teammate Will Ashcroft in the Norm Smith Medal voting. Ashcroft was the second-best player, according to the all-encompassing statistic, so the decision was not really a blunder but Neale (game-high 35 disposals, nine clearances, 11 score involvements) would have certainly been a worthy winner. Watch every game of the NAB AFL Women’s Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo.

New to Kayo? Start your free trial today > Callum Ah Chee and Kai Lohmann, third and fourth respectively in the Norm Smith, were the fourth and third-best Lions on the ground so the voters accurately selected the top four overall. Surprisingly Sydney had four of the top six players on the ground, with Brodie Grundy (22 disposals, seven clearances) a surprising third overall. Swans superstar Isaac Heeney (14 disposals in 62 per cent time on ground) was a lowly 39th while his side’s forwards struggled immensely, with Hayden McLean, Will Hayward, Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey the bottom four players on the ground.

See the full 1-46 rankings below. AFL PLAYER RATINGS FROM 2024 GRAND FINAL 1. Lachie Neale, Brisbane Lions (21.

5 points) 2. Will Ashcroft, Brisbane Lions (19.3) 3.

Brodie Grundy, Sydney Swans (19.2) 4. James Rowbottom, Sydney Swans (17) 5.

Robbie Fox, Sydney Swans (15.3) 6. Luke Parker, Sydney Swans (14.

7) 7. Kai Lohmann, Brisbane Lions (14.6) 8.

Callum Ah Chee, Brisbane Lions (14.3) 9. Josh Dunkley, Brisbane Lions (13.

9) 10. Hugh McCluggage, Brisbane Lions (13.8) 11.

Jarrod Berry, Brisbane Lions (13.2) 12. Dayne Zorko, Brisbane Lions (11.

8) 13. Brandon Starcevich, Brisbane Lions (11.6) =14.

Logan Morris, Brisbane Lions (11) =14. Chad Warner, Sydney Swans (11) =16. Joe Daniher, Brisbane Lions (9.

9) =16. Jake Lloyd, Sydney Swans (9.9) 18.

Harris Andrews, Brisbane Lions (9.8) 19. Cam Rayner, Brisbane Lions (9.

3) 20. Dane Rampe, Sydney Swans (9) 21. Ollie Florent, Sydney Swans (8.

8) 22. Zac Bailey, Brisbane Lions (8.6) 23.

Nick Blakey, Sydney Swans (8.5) 24. Darcy Wilmot, Brisbane Lions (8.

4) =25. Lewis Melican, Sydney Swans (8.1) =25.

Matt Roberts, Sydney Swans (8.1) 27. Jack Payne, Brisbane Lions (8) 28.

Eric Hipwood, Brisbane Lions (6.8) 29. Errol Gulden, Sydney Swans (6.

7) 30. Ryan Lester, Brisbane Lions (6.5) 31.

Tom McCartin, Sydney Swans (6.4) 32. Darcy Fort, Brisbane Lions (5.

5) 33. Tom Papley, Sydney Swans (5) 34. Noah Answerth, Brisbane Lions (4.

1) 35. Jaspa Fletcher, Brisbane Lions (3.6) =36.

Harry Cunningham, Sydney Swans (2.8) =36. Justin McInerney, Sydney Swans (2.

8) =36. Conor McKenna, Brisbane Lions (2.8) 39.

Isaac Heeney, Sydney Swans (2.5) 40. James Jordon, Sydney Swans (2.

4) 41. Braeden Campbell, Sydney Swans (2.1) 42.

Charlie Cameron, Brisbane Lions (1.5) 43. Hayden McLean, Sydney Swans (1.

3) 44. Will Hayward, Sydney Swans (0.7) 45.

Logan McDonald, Sydney Swans (0.2) 46. Joel Amartey, Sydney Swans (-0.

6).