Norm Smith’s parents are Victor Smith, an ironworker, and Ethel May (née Brown). He has an older brother named Len, born in 1912.
Smith attended Westgarth Central School before completing an engineering apprenticeship and working in Brunswick at Millers Rope Works. He took over the Northcote engineering company from his father in 1943, moving it to North Coburg in 1954.
He married Marjorie Victoria Ellis at the Wesley Church in Melbourne on October 19, 1940. Peter, their only child, was born in 1947. On July 29, 1973, Norm Smith died aged 57 of a brain tumor at his home of Pascoe Vale. His son and his wife survived him.
Smith had a huge impact. He made coaching in Australian rules football more important by introducing new ideas like using a runner to communicate with his players (in 1955). It raised the bar for physical preparation and group cohesion while paving the way for the development of the so-called “running game” in the 1970s.
Although he sometimes caused arguments due to his direct demeanor and intolerance of fools, he was universally appreciated and respected for his shrewd analysis of the game and his belief that teamwork was paramount.
Despite his reputation as a terrific speaker and strict leader, he was a reserved individual outside of competition. He has paradoxically contributed more than anyone to transform the sport from a semi-professional sport while playing and coaching mainly for the love of the game.
Peter Smith, a striker who played for Coburg in the VFA and Melbourne and Carlton in the VFL in the 1970s, was Coburg’s top scorer for one season. Norm Smith was only the second manager to be voted into the Australian Rules Football Hall of Fame on July 19, 2007.
