Will Ashcroft is officially a Brisbane Lion.
The exciting midfielder was taken at Pick Two in tonight’s 2022 NAB AFL Draft, with the Lions matching a bid from North Melbourne to secure the father-son selection.
Will now follows in the footsteps of his father, triple premiership player and Club legend Marcus Ashcroft, who played 318 games with the Lions.
Moments after having his name called out at the Draft, the 18-year-old spoke about the feeling of having his childhood dream become a reality.
“I’m relieved, I’ve known for a little while but it’s still great to hear and I’m excited it’s official,” he said.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, it all resets now, I’ve got a lot of work to do in the preseason. I need to prove myself and earn all of the respect of the playing group.
“I’ll be heading up to Brisbane on Wednesday and will kick straight into gear.”
Ashcroft, a midfielder who wins the ball on both the inside and outside with an exciting burst of speed, was regarded by many as the best player in the Draft.
The talented youngster has drawn comparison to that of Carlton’s Sam Walsh, following an impressive season at all levels in 2022.
“We are enormously excited to officially welcome Will into the Lions’ den,” National Recruiting Manager Stephen Conole said.
“After an outstanding junior career though the pathway system, Will completed this in 2002 with an exceptional under 18 season, leading the Dragons to the NAB League flag and Vic Metro to victory in the National Championships.
“Will is not only a very talented, super competitive player, but a young man who plays with a really strong team ethos and will be a fantastic addition to our squad in 2023 and beyond.
“Prolific across all levels he has competed in this year, I am sure everyone in and around the Club is looking forward to seeing Will pull on the Lions jumper next season.”
