While David Mundy had hoped to be participating on-field in last weekend’s AFL grand final, the retiring Fremantle legend had a significant and ‘nerve-wracking’ role to play off-field on the biggest day on the AFL calendar.

Mundy joined Andrew McLeod, Abbey Holmes, Jonathon Brown and Michael Gleeson with the high-pressure task of voting on the 2022 Norm Smith Medal.

Geelong’s Isaac Smith ultimately took home the best afield honours after tallying 32 disposals, three goals, 12 score involvements and a game-high 771 metres gained.

While Smith received the three votes from Mundy, the Fremantle champion felt the pressure of making the correct decision right up until the medal was placed around Smith’s neck.

“It was very nerve-wracking,” Mundy told 96FM Breakfast.

“When I was initially asked to vote on it, I went ‘no way!’, it felt like too much responsibility, and I just wanted to go and enjoy the day and relax.

“I ultimately said yes and I was very nervous, it was like I was playing, but after the game I feel like I got it right because I gave Isaac Smith my three votes which was fantastic.

“When he was announced as the Norm Smith medal winner it was like I had won it I celebrated that hard.”

Mundy found himself watching the second half alone as he kept a close eye on the game despite the result blowing out to an 81-point margin by the final siren.

“I spent the last half of the game watching by myself because everyone around me had given up by that point and were just enjoying the bar and functions,” Mundy said.

“I was sitting there drinking a lemonade watching the last half of the grand final on my own.

“My first alcoholic beverage was at the final siren, so I was very dedicated, but I was very nervous going into it.”

Voting on the Norm Smith wasn’t the only commitment for Mundy on grand final day, part of the annual retirees’ motorcade before the ball was bounced.

With wife Sally and his three young children Finn, Hudson and Edie in toe, Mundy said the stress levels were high as he tried to keep his kids in check for the occasion.

We got into the back of the Hilux Utes underneath the stadium and all three of my kids were in the back with me,” Mundy said.

“Shane Edwards and his beautiful young daughter (was in the back too) was sitting perfectly on his knee while my kids were running an absolutely muck in the back of this car.

“At that moment, I was like ‘there is every chance that one or all of my children at any point in this lap will jump off and go for a run’, they will probably go off and meet Robbie Williams and Delta Goodrem, so I was sitting there nervous.

“As we got up onto the playing surface with 100,000 people in the stands and all that noise, it actually spooked them, so there are a few photos and videos of them sitting there really nervously!”