Will Ashcroft

{{Infobox AFL biography

| image = Will Ashcroft 050425.jpg

| caption = Ashcroft in April 2025

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|05|06|df=yes}}

| originalteam = Brisbane Lions(VFL)/Sandringham Dragons (NAB League) / Brighton Grammar (APS) / Southport (QAFL) / Broadbeach (QAFL)

| draftpick = No. 2 (F/S), 2022 national draft

| debutdate = Round 1, 2023

| debutteam = {{AFL BL}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL PA}}

| debutstadium = Adelaide Oval

| height = 182 cm

| weight = 76 kg

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = {{AFL BL}}

| guernsey = 8

| years1 = 2023–

| club1 = {{AFL BL}}

| games_goals1 = 44 (15)

| statsend = round 13, 2025

| careerhighlights =

}}

Will Ashcroft (born 6 May 2004) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was taken as pick number 2, under the father–son rule. Ashcroft is a premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist, claiming both distinctions in Brisbane's 2024 premiership victory against the Sydney Swans.

Ashcroft began playing football as a child at the age of six. The son of Marcus Ashcroft, a three-time AFL premiership player, Ashcroft's talent as a footballer was identified by the Gold Coast Suns Football Club at the age of ten. He played for various teams in Queensland as a child, before moving to Melbourne in 2019 at the age of 15 where he commenced playing for the Sandringham Dragons. During his time with the Sandringham Dragons, Ashcroft was promoted to captain and received the Larke Medal for best player at the national championships.

At the 2022 AFL Draft, Ashcroft was chosen to play for the Brisbane Lions. Ashcroft was widely considered the best player in the 2022 draft class by AFL club recruiters.

Early life

Ashcroft was born on 6 May 2004 on the Gold Coast, to parents Rebekah and Marcus Ashcroft.{{Cite web |date=2 May 2022 |title=Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Will Ashcroft makes early claim to be AFL's No.1 draft pick |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/brisbane-lions/brisbane-lions-fatherson-prospect-will-ashcroft-makes-early-claim-to-be-afls-no1-draft-pick/news-story/31727e44325449333d3e2889a7a0f4e2 |access-date=10 October 2022 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Will Ashcroft |url=https://www.afl.com.au/draft/prospects/will-ashcroft |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=afl.com.au |language=en}} He has two siblings,{{Cite news |last=Robbemond |first=Amanda |date=16 March 2017 |title=Coeliac disease: How Marcus Ashcroft's Gold Coast family live with gluten intolerance |work=The Gold Coast Bulletin |url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/coeliac-disease-how-marcus-ashcrofts-gold-coast-family-live-with-gluten-intolerance/news-story/986cbf8cef22532ca076e0d226c68978 |access-date=15 December 2022}} one of which is fellow professional footballer Levi Ashcroft.

Ashcroft attended All Saints Anglican School for most of his youth.{{Cite news |date=20 April 2018 |title=Saints Alive: Middle/Senior Sport Updates |work=All Saints Anglican School |url=https://www.asas.qld.edu.au/newsletter-articles/middle-senior-sport-updates-13 |access-date=14 October 2022}} His father Marcus Ashcroft, is a three-time AFL premiership player who competed in 318 games for the Brisbane Bears/Lions over the course of his 15-year professional career.{{Cite news |date=1 November 2020 |title=Queensland Football Hall of Fame: Marcus Ashcroft (Legend) |work=AFL Queensland |url=https://www.aflq.com.au/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-a-e/marcus-ashcroft/ |access-date=16 October 2022}} His great uncle is former Melbourne Demons player John Townsend, who was part of their 1964 premiership team.

Ashcroft played a variety of sports while growing up on the Gold Coast and was selected to represent Queensland in swimming as well as athletics before focusing on Australian rules football.{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Andrew |date=29 November 2014 |title=Will Ashcroft, son of Marcus, could be centre of tug of war between Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast |work=The Courier Mail |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/teams/gold-coast/will-ashcroft-son-of-marcus-could-be-centre-of-tug-of-war-between-brisbane-lions-gold-coast/news-story/0e9474776034d857faf718dc6ea34c9c |access-date=11 October 2022}} He played junior football from a young age, and was at 10 years old selected by the Gold Coast Suns to take part in their academy program.

Ashcroft has stated that his personal training standards were inspired by Gary Ablett Jr. and Touk Miller.{{Cite news |last=Waterworth |first=Ben |date=20 October 2022 |title=How ready-made pro with dream footy childhood became AFL's top prospect: Full Q&A |work=Fox Sports Australia |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/brisbane-lions/afl-draft-2022-will-ashcroft-profile-qa-professionalism-top-draft-prospect-brisbane-lions-fatherson-interview-news/news-story/928e822c98cb93e3d4109d4594425ed6 |access-date=20 October 2022}} At 11 years of age, he switched clubs and began playing for Southport in the under-14s Gold Coast AFL competition. Several years later he represented Queensland at the 2018 U15 AFL National Championships, where his performances earned him All-Australian honours as a bottom-ager.{{Cite news |last=Cheadle |first=Josh |date=31 July 2018 |title=Four Academy members earn All-Australian honours |work=Gold Coast Suns |url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/261053/four-academy-members-earn-all-australian-honours |access-date=16 October 2022}} He was also awarded the Gold Coast Suns under-14s Academy Player of the Year award after the 2018 season{{Cite news|date=6 September 2018 |title=2018 SUNS Academy Awards |work=Gold Coast Suns |url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/82972/2018-suns-academy-awards:2 |access-date=15 October 2022}} where he played alongside future AFL players Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham.{{Cite news|date=15 November 2023 |title=Long-time Suns fan inspired by Pies gun as he waits for draft call |work=AFL.com.au |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1064319/that-would-be-cool-elite-athletes-will-graham-draft-wish-for-gold-coast-suns-academy-mates|access-date=11 March 2024}} Ashcroft relocated to Melbourne in 2019 where he began attending Brighton Grammar and once again competed in the U15 AFL National Championships, although this time he would captain Victoria to an undefeated gold medal performance.{{Cite news|date=27 August 2019 |title=Ashcroft appointed Captain |work=Brighton Grammar School |url=https://www.brightongrammar.vic.edu.au/will-ashcroft-named-captain/ |access-date=18 October 2022}}

Ashcroft temporarily moved back to Queensland in 2020 to play in the QAFL junior league for Morningside during the COVID-19 pandemic-affected year which cancelled all junior football competitions within Victoria.{{Cite news|date=18 July 2022 |title=Why 'dominant' father–son gun's 'big decision' will shape the AFL draft as Lions face (positive) problem |work=Fox Sports Australia |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-draft-2022-news-will-ashcroft-brisbane-lions-father-son-call-stats-stars-for-vic-metro-jaspa-fletcher-stars-for-allies/news-story/776d93531450b078c7d67e7b0e9e5251 |access-date=24 November 2022}} In 2021, after moving back to Victoria, Ashcroft was deemed a top draft prospect after performing well for Victoria Metro in the U17 National Championships.{{Cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Kevin |date=27 June 2021 |title=U17 CHAMPS: Son of three-peat Lion stars as Metro roars past Country |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/647725/father-son-gun-will-ashcroft-steers-vic-metro-to-strong-win-over-vic-country-in-under-17-championships |access-date=16 October 2022}} Despite spending most of his childhood on the Gold Coast and five years in the Suns academy, the AFL ruled in April 2021 that Ashcroft was ineligible to be academy-drafted by the Gold Coast Suns.{{Cite news|date=14 April 2021 |title=Lions win crosstown battle for access to son of triple premiership star |work=AFL.com.au |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/583471/brisbane-lions-win-battle-for-access-to-will-ashcroft-son-of-triple-premiership-star-marcus-ashcroft |access-date=11 October 2022}}

In 2022, Ashcroft captained the Sandringham Dragons to a NAB League premiership and Victoria Metro to an U18 National Championship, later receiving the captaincy honour in the U18 All-Australian team as well as the Larke Medal.{{Cite web |last=Mottram |first=Seb |date=18 September 2022 |title=Hype surrounding Lions father-son booms after huge Grand Final outing |url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/09/18/hype-surrounding-lions-father-son-booms-after-huge-grand-final-outing |access-date=10 October 2022 |website=www.sen.com.au |language=en}} After finishing his Victorian Certificate of Education at Brighton Grammar toward the end of 2021, he began studying commerce and sport management at Deakin University.{{Cite news |last=Cavanagh |first=Chris |date=12 March 2022 |title=AFL draft news: Potential No.1 pick Will Ashcroft yet to decide on Brisbane father-son nomination |work=The Herald Sun |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft/afl-draft-news-potential-no1-pick-will-ashcroft-yet-to-decide-on-brisbane-fatherson-nomination/news-story/0bcadd66e59fb7f858dc024deb8dc994 |access-date=10 October 2022}}

AFL career

Ashcroft was nominated as a father–son selection for the Brisbane Lions in the 2022 AFL draft, and was accepted as Pick 2 after the Brisbane Lions matched North Melbourne's bid.{{Cite news |date=28 November 2022 |title=AFL Draft 2022 live: Aaron Cadman goes No. 1, Will Ashcroft No. 2 |work=news.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2022-live-fatherson-drama-to-shape-selections/news-story/4f1fc407d679ad6ff8e8807c615c5f55 |access-date=28 November 2022}} He since agreed to remain with the Brisbane Lions until at least the end of the 2026 season.{{Cite news |date=12 August 2022 |title=Will Ashcroft would be proud to call his brother Levi a Brisbane Lions teammate |work=news.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/will-ashcroft-would-be-proud-to-call-his-brother-levi-a-brisbane-lions-teammate/news-story/8563c7744a0b53406660ae321003cae6 |access-date=30 October 2022}} Ashcroft made his AFL debut in Round 1 against Port Adelaide, gathering 13 disposals and a goal in a 54-point defeat. In Round 2, Ashcroft collected 31 disposals against Melbourne and received a Rising Star nomination as one of the best players on the ground in only his second game, earning widespread praise from the AFL media and community.

In Round 19, Ashcroft ruptured his ACL against the Geelong Cats, ending his debut season prematurely and therefore missing the 2023 finals series. The AFL community all widely expressed their support for Ashcroft, who was the Rising Star favourite and had been a standout player for Brisbane despite it being his debut season. He documented his recovery process through his website, WASH Performance and Wellbeing.

Ashcroft's was nominated for and won the Goal of the Year, announced at the 2023 Brownlow Medal. He finished the year with 10 Brownlow votes, the third-most for the Lions, finishing behind Joe Daniher with 12, and Lachie Neale, who won the award with 31.

He returned from his ACL injury mid-way through the 2024 season, returning against Melbourne in Round 16 and playing a crucial role in the Lions' mid-season resurgence that saw them bounce back from a below-average season start to make finals with a fifth-place finish. Ashcroft would be instrumental in the Lions finals run, and was part of the Brisbane Lions 2024 premiership winning team,{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1231476/lion-kings-chris-fagans-heroes-thrash-sydney-swans-in-grand-final-shock|date=28 September 2024|website=AFL|title=Lion Kings: Fagan's heroes thrash Swans in GF shock}} winning the Norm Smith Medal as best afield in the Grand Final with 30 disposals and a goal.{{cite web|date=28 September 2024|title=Where there's a Will: Prodigious Lion wins Norm Smith|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1231480/where-theres-a-will-prodigious-lion-wins-norm-smith|website=AFL.com.au}} At 20 years of age, Ashcroft became the youngest Norm Smith Medal winner since 1979, when Wayne Harmes won the inaugural edition of the award.

On May 4, 2025, Brisbane defeated the Gold Coast Suns in QClash 28, winning 9.12 (66) to 7.7 (49). Ashcroft accumulated 34 disposals, 17 contested possessions and 9 clearances to be awarded the Marcus Ashcroft Medal as the best on ground.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/7035#player-stats |title=AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results }} The medal is named after his father, due to his contributions to both clubs.

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2024 season{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/W/Will_Ashcroft.html|title=AFL Tables – Will Ashcroft|access-date=30 September 2024|work=AFL Tables}}

| 2023 || {{AFL BL}} || 8

| 18 || 8 || 6 || 200 || 198 || 398 || 61 || 63 || 0.4 || 0.3 || 11.1 || 11.0 || 22.1 || 3.4 || 3.5 || 10

| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | 2024^# || {{AFL BL}} || 8

| 13 || 3 || 8 || 166 || 131 || 297 || 67 || 33 || 0.2 || 0.6 || 12.8 || 10.1 || 22.9 || 5.2 || 2.5 || 0

|- class=sortbottom

! colspan=3 | Career

! 31 !! 11 !! 14 !! 366 !! 329 !! 695 !! 128 !! 96 !! 0.4 !! 0.5 !! 11.8 !! 10.6 !! 22.4 !! 4.1 !! 3.1 !! 10