Stats

Playing Career
1989-1996 – Brisbane Bears
1997-2003 – Brisbane Lions

Games
318 (152 Bears, 166 Lions)

Goals
145 (84 Bears, 61 Lions)

Playing Honours
Lions Premiership Player – 2001, 2002, 2003
Lions Life Member
Lions Team of the Decade (1997-2006)
Queensland Football Hall of Fame
Queensland Team of the Century
Queensland/Allies State Representative (6 times)

Summary

For a man who spent much of his time in the shadows, Marcus Ashcroft's wonderful career is certainly worthy of the spotlight.

A home-grown product of the Gold Coast, he proved one of Queensland's greatest football success stories – from his humble beginnings with the then 'Bad News' Bears back in the Carrara days, to playing a key role with the all-conquering Lions' triple Premiership-winning team.

As well as being tremendously fit with sublime skills, Ashcroft was the consummate professional in his approach to the game.

His organised and structured personality helped him to become one of the competition's most durable athletes. In fact, he played 170 matches in a row from 1992-2000 – a feat that had only been exceeded by four others at the time.

He also managed to maintain a high level of consistency throughout his career, finishing among the top three in the Club's Best & Fairest award on six separate occasions, without ever receiving the ultimate honour.

But Ashcroft's name became forever etched in AFL history when he became the first – and only – Queenslander to notch up 300 games.

For a man of such meticulous preparation, even Ashcroft couldn't have better planned the way his career ultimately came to a close – playing his 318th, and final, AFL match in the Lions' third consecutive Premiership triumph in 2003.