[1][2] The following year he made five VFL appearances for Hawthorn, then spent time away from the game on national service, before returning to Strathmerton in 1970.
[3][4] In 1971, Smith started playing in the Goulburn Valley Football League, where he won back-to-back Morrison Medals, with Tatura in 1974 and Lemnos in 1975.
[4][5] His two-year stint coaching Corowa, in 1977 and 1978, was the final two seasons that the club played in the Ovens & Murray Football League, before merging with Rutherglen.
[4] In 1979 he coached Belconnen to its first Australian Capital Territory Football League grand final, which they lost to Ainslie.
[9] Brent Smith, Norman's son, also played football in Canberra and in 1991 won the Mulrooney Medal.