CHRISTIAN Petracca was always destined for stardom, and on Saturday night he joined the game's greats by winning his first Norm Smith Medal with an imperious performance.

And like the best men to ever play the game, he saved his masterpiece for the biggest game of his career.

The 25-year-old Melbourne superstar was at the heart of everything good in the Demons' 74-point drought-breaking premiership triumph, mixing power, speed and a touch of class to run away with the award.

His 39 disposals were a Grand Final record, equalling Simon Black's mark from 2003.

It was also the most disposals in any of Petracca's 127-game career. It was truly a special performance.

Much like Dustin Martin – the three-time medal winner and the man he's been compared to for so much of his career – Petracca ripped the game away from the Western Bulldogs when it was up for grabs in the third quarter.

With Melbourne trailing by 13 points, he won a centre clearance that led to a Bayley Fritsch goal and then won the next clearance from the centre that ended up in a Ben Brown goal.

The Demons were back in the match and from there they never looked back.

Petracca's brilliant dribbling goal from the left forward pocket late in the third quarter was the first nail in the Bulldogs' coffin.

He finished with nine clearances, a whopping 896m gained and two goal assists to go with his disposals.

"To these boys, unbelievable job," Petracca said to his teammates when receiving his medal. "We said from the start we wanted to be here and we're here."

It wasn't just the numbers that were so gawdy, but how Petracca gathered them, and more importantly when.

With opposing superstar Marcus Bontempelli threatening to take the game away with his third goal early in the third quarter, Petracca stepped up when his team needed him most.

It's a trait he has developed over time after being taken with the second overall pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.

It wasn't always smooth sailing for Petracca though, rupturing his ACL during his first pre-season and not making his debut until round six, 2016.

His progression has been as good as Petracca or any Melbourne fan, coach or teammate could have hoped for, winning Therabody AFL All-Australian honours the past two seasons.

The powerful midfielder kicked the first goal of the game with a bomb from 50m off a step and never looked back.

He had 10 disposals in the first quarter, and even in the second quarter was swimming against the tide to gather 18 by the half.

And when the game was there to be won, Petracca grabbed it and delivered the cup to Melbourne with both hands.

2021 Norm Smith Medal voting

15 - Christian Petracca (Melb)
10 - Bayley Fritsch (Melb)
3 - Clayton Oliver (Melb)
1 - Christian Salem (Melb)
1 - Caleb Daniel (Melb)

Judges' voting
Luke Hodge (Chair) – C Petracca 3, B Fritsch 2, C Oliver 1
Harry Taylor – C Petracca 3, B Fritsch 2, C Salem 1
Tania Armstrong – C Petracca 3, B Fritsch 2, C Oliver 1
Andrew Krakouer – C Petracca 3, B Fritsch 2, C Daniel 1
Callum Twomey – C Petracca 3, B Fritsch 2, C Oliver 1