Bobby Hill has claimed the Norm Smith Medal in Collingwood's nail biting win over Brisbane to claim the 2023 premiership.

The Pies outlasted the Lions to secure the four point victory on Saturday, 12.18 (90) to 13.8 (86).

Wayward kicking at goals threatened to cost the Pies, Bobby Hill their best in front of the sticks with 4.2 and seven score involvements overall.

The 23-year-old didn't add to his tally after half time, but presented as an option over and over again as the scoring screws tightened for both sides through the second half.

Hill was able to gift long-time captain and all-time great Scott Pendlebury a deserved notch on the scoreboard after he gave off a set shot attempt in the third term.

It's a remarkable story for Hill.

Arriving on the Magpies doorstep ahead following a testing final year at the Greater Western Sydney Giants, he kicked 33 goals throughout the club's premiership campaign as one of the competition's recruits of the year.

He was diagnosed and recovered from testicular cancer diagnosis throughout 2022.

The electric small forward had requested a move to Victoria the year prior, but spent another twelve months with GWS.

At the end of a breakout season, Keidean Coleman starred for the unlucky Lions with 26 disposals and consistent poise coming out of the defensive fifty with the game on the line.

In a fourth term where the deadlock loomed to go unbroken, Charlie Cameron gave Brisbane hope with his third goal before the Pies quickly went back-to-back on the scoreboard.

A final major through Joe Daniher wasn't enough to allow an upset.

The two best sides through 2023 played out one of the great grand finals in recent memory.

Hill goes down in the history books as the best man afield.