TEAM FIRST FOR DEES’ TOP PLAYER

GRAND FINAL hero Christian Petracca has revealed the reason why he “tucked” his Norm Smith Medal away during Melbourne’s premiership celebrations, saying he didn’t want his individual award to overshadow the team-first ethos that swept the Demons to this year’s flag.

The star midfielder was the unanimous winner of best afield honours after his 39disposal masterclass, as the Demons ended a 57-year premiership drought.

But after accepting the award immediately after the match, Petracca put his medal away for safekeeping and partied the night away with his premiership medal around his neck instead.

“I tucked the Norm Smith (Medal) away because we are built to be selfless,” Petracca said at the TAB’s Virtual Spring Carnival Launch on Tuesday.

“The award is an individual award, you don’t play footy for individual awards. It has my name on it, but it should have everyone’s (name on it).

“I got here in 2014. I saw years that we were down as a team, but you look at Gawny (Max Gawn) and (Nathan) Jones, they have been through the dark years.

“And our fans had been waiting since 1964.”

He was exceptionally proud of winning the medal named after Norm Smith, a legendary Melbourne figure, but as proud as he was, he didn’t want his individual award to put him above his teammates.

Petracca said the past few days had been the best experience of his life, but said he was keen to see if the Demons could back it up at the MCG next season.

“(Winning) is a lot better than I thought,” he said.

Petracca, 25, revealed he will return home to Melbourne on Thursday.