'He's so good, oh my goodness': How Lions' new 18yo 'weapon ...

When Will Ashcroft was in the midst of his draft year dominating against players his own age, most recruiters declared he was good enough – and ready – then to play in the AFL, let alone come Round 1, 2023.

On Friday night in just his second game against arguably the league’s best midfield brigade, the 18-year-old justified those suggestions from 12 months ago.

Ashcroft – the son of triple premiership Lion Marcus Ashcroft who was taken with Pick 2 in last year’s draft – was one of Brisbane’s best players in its tight win over Melbourne, kicking 1.1 and finishing with team-high disposals (31), contested possessions (15) and clearances (9) from 81 per cent game time.

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“That’s how he’s been playing all pre-season,” Lions coach Chris Fagan told reporters post-game.

“He‘s a fine young footballer.

“He was terrific. He can find the ball and he can set things up for us. If he can get somewhere near that most weeks that‘d be a terrific result from a first-year player, but there’s a long way in the season to go.”

For many pundits, Ashcroft entered the 2023 season as ready-made as any teenager that’s ever been drafted to the AFL and, quite rightly, the white-hot Rising Star favourite.

Therefore his Round 1 performance against Port Adelaide – one goal from 13 disposals in a hefty 54-point loss – was relatively subdued compared to the lofty external standards.

In a slightly different role – he started on a wing and attended just eight centre bounces for the night – Ashcroft showed terrific composure and footy nous in a high-pressure game against a quality opposition.

“He’s so good, oh my goodness,” Lions veteran Dayne Zorko told Fox Footy post-game. “I can’t praise the kid enough.

“You’re always careful as to what you say about these young kids that come in because they obviously get compared to the greats of the game, but honestly it‘s been incredible what he’s been able to do since he’s been at the football club.

“He was fortunate enough to train with us over the summer in the past few years, so he’s fitted in seamlessly. We’re just starting to touch the surface on him. He’s a weapon, to be honest, nothing flusters him. He just hunts the ball and gets going.”

Former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon pointed out that Ashcroft had four crucial possessions that cleared danger for the Lions during Melbourne’s late five-goal blitz.

“He was unbelievable – and I say that in the nicest possible way because there was too much pressure on him last week,” Dixon told Fox Footy Live.

“When you talk about the high draft picks and what their potential is, he was in the pressure cooker tonight right in the middle and he showed some really good class. Remember, this is a kid, this is a baby playing for the Brisbane Lions.

“Just some of the deft touches when you don’t have the ball in your hands and you’re going to handball and kick, those little knock-ons and kicks off the ground … he showed he has some really good composure.”

Triple All-Australian Nick Dal Santo added: “It’s the style of play I liked about him. We saw Harry Sheezel last week and the way he instantly had an impact for the Kangaroos in their win, well this was the same style of play.

“This is a young man that’s got the football smarts and nous to know what to do against what I think is the best midfield in the competition. For him to be able to do this on a Friday with the bright lights – well for a period of time – I was really impressed and he’s just going to grow.”

Before Ashcroft was officially drafted by the Lions, he was unofficially living a full-time professional footballer lifestyle.

He built an outstanding fitness foundation during the Covid years to position himself to launch straight into an AFL career and play senior football straight away. Then during his draft year, he was meticulous with his week-to-week routine – ice baths, beach recoveries and stretching were in-season recovery priorities, while he often did extra weight sessions – and metronomically consistent on the field, leading to him claiming almost every honour possible, both individually and collectively.

Recruiters and fellow players were blown away by Ashcroft’s professionalism last year. And that has translated into the AFL.

“You’d be a brave man to suggest Will Ashcroft won’t end up captaining this side,” five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.

“He’s played two games of footy, the raps were enormous – and (on Friday night) he was extraordinary. He looked as calm and composed and polished as anyone else on the ground.”

Barring a ridiculous performance by an eligible rival player, Ashcroft will almost certainly receive the Round 2 AFL Rising Star nomination. And Lions legend Jonathan Brown said it’d be the first of many standout games from Ashcroft this year.

“He could have the same impact in his first year as Sam Walsh and Nick Daicos did,” Brown told Fox Footy.

“There’s a maturity about him, mentally and physically.”