He made headlines this week after nominating Brisbane as a father-son selection. So what makes Will Ashcroft stand out from the rest in this year’s draft class?
In the lead up to this year’s AFL Draft, there is one name that seems to remain on everyone’s lips. Discussions have only ramped up after Will Ashcroft nominated for Brisbane in the draft under the father-son rule.
He comes from famous footballing pedigree through his father Marcus Ashcroft, who is a three-time premiership player, totalling 318 games during his time with Brisbane. Will’s bloodlines certainly fast-tracked speculation on what level of prospect the 18-year-old would become as he entered his Draft year.
Having entered the year as one of the top-ranked names of the class, Ashcroft would ultimately decide whether to remain in Melbourne, or relocate back to Queensland where he originally hails from.
Many have touted Ashcroft as a pick one possibility, setting up a link to current owners of the Draft’s premium asset North Melbourne. Though West Coast are also in a position to drop to 18th by the end of the season, therefore landing pick one.
His decision to nominate Brisbane is another chapter in the fanfare that the in-demand midfielder has received throughout the year. Hype has continued to surround Ashcroft, which was kickstarted by a 33-touch, two goal, 12 clearance game back at under-17 level.
His performances seen in the NAB League, the national championships and even in the VFL continue to keep him in the spotlight. Ashcroft’s ability to create immediate impact on the field and his leadership has seen him garner comparisons to Carlton’s Sam Walsh, pick one in the 2018 Draft.
Danny Daly, the Lions General Manager of Football, spoke about Ashcroft following his decision to choose Brisbane as his preferred destination.
“Will is one of the most talented young players in the country and to have him choose the Brisbane Lions to start his AFL career is a huge moment for all involved,” Daly said.
“He has impressed at every level he has played at this year, and like our members, we cannot wait for him to pull on a Brisbane Lions jumper.”
The Sandringham Dragons talent went viral back in July after he collected 51 disposals in a game against the Western Jets. It’s the second-most disposals in a game in NAB League history. Overall, he averaged 35 disposals whilst with the Dragons.
Ashcroft also showed off his abilities during the Under 18s championships, averaging 33 disposals, 6.7 tackles, 10 clearances and 6.7 inside 50s during his three games with Vic Metro.
His performances with Vic Metro put him in the frame for the Larke Medal, which is awarded to the best player of the carnival. If he does win the award, he’ll join a list of big name stars that were medal recipients in previous years, including Christian Petracca and Tom Hawkins.
Ashcroft has also mixed in with AFL players during the time he’s worked towards an AFL career. Last summer, the eighteen-year-old trained alongside the Brisbane Lions as part of the club’s father-son program.
If that wasn’t enough, the young gun appeared in a handful of games for Brisbane’s reserves side this season. He impressed with his performances, going up against the Sydney Swans and the Coburg Lions.
Across his two VFL games, he averaged 28 disposals, eight tackles, six inside 50s and five clearances. It’s believed that Ashcroft could potentially be involved in a few more games before the VFL season wraps up for the year.
If you aren’t familiar with the name Will Ashcroft, then be prepared to be hearing a whole lot more about him.
