Trust and belief were two of the key ingredients behind the Brisbane Lions’ recipe for premiership success in 2001, according to Norm Smith Medallist Shaun Hart.

Speaking at the Lions’ 3-Peat Anniversary Luncheon in Brisbane on Thursday, Hart told the sell-out crowd that a little-known initiative from Senior Coach Leigh Matthews helped spark the team’s undefeated run from Round 10 that year.

“Having watched the ‘Predator’ movie, Leigh developed a ‘Role Appreciation’ award where every player would vote on the teammate they thought had played their role for the team the best,” Hart said.

“I truly believe that was a trigger to motivate players to do those things.”

Even when the Lions looked to be in trouble during the second quarter of the 2001 Grand Final against Essendon, the team maintained that belief in each other to perform their designated role.  

“Going into half-time of that game against Essendon, they had surged ahead a little bit. But Alastair (Lynch) had kicked a goal just before half time,” Hart said.  

“It was a hot day – 27 degrees – and all of a sudden we were close enough and there was a real confidence within the group, particularly the midfield group who had an incredible running power.”   

History now tells us that the Lions would prove too strong in the end, and that Hart himself would be rewarded for his ‘role’ with the Norm Smith Medal.

“It was quite surreal. All of a sudden this person comes up and says you’ve been announced as the winner of the Norm Smith Medal,” he recalled.  

“Quite seriously, at that moment I thought Mal Michael had put someone up to giving me a practical joke. But sure enough, it was right.”

“It’s probably easy to say, but you can’t win those awards without having the right people around you.”

Former teammate Alastair Lynch echoed Hart’s sentiments.

“We had superstars everywhere,” Lynch said.

“But we also had so many guys who were prepared to do jobs, who probably weren’t getting the recognition from the commentary box, but internally they were.”

“That was the real strength of our team.”

Hart was certainly one of those unsung heroes, and therefore proved an incredibly popular winner of the Norm Smith Medal.

Shaun Hart is currently an Assistant Coach at the Gold Coast Suns.