When he was 12, Ashcroft was ‘destined’ for the big stage. These numbers prove it

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As his younger brother Levi reveals, Will Ashcroft’s ability to hit the peak of his powers once the Brisbane Lions’ season goes on the line is nothing new.

It was, in fact, embedded in his DNA when they were kids.

“I can just remember playing school footy with him when I was in year nine, and he was in year 12 at Brighton Grammar,” Levi Ashcroft tells this masthead.

Levi and Will Ashcroft will share the field for their first AFL grand final as teammates.

“He would be tagged and people would be all over him, but he would just find space when there wasn’t any space.

“He wasn’t putting the team on his back, but in a way doing that at such a young age and being able to shoulder lots of responsibilities and taking the game on himself … he’s a star.”

There is no denying Will looms as a game-changer if the Lions are to defend their 2024 AFL premiership against Geelong.

He will be joined in the midfield by co-captain Lachie Neale, who has completed a remarkable recovery from a calf injury to take on Cats maestro Bailey Smith, who leads the competition for average disposals (31.4) and inside 50s (6.5).

But Will knows what it takes to thrive in this arena, lifting the Cup with the Norm Smith Medal dangling around his neck 12 months ago, as he dragged Levi onto the field to celebrate with his future teammates.

That moment fuelled his younger brother’s desire to join him on the field as a player 12 months later upon his drafting under the father-son rule, and he has gone on to feature in every game en route to Brisbane’s third-straight decider.

“It’s funny to look back and see that I was jumping on the field as a spectator and a support of Will and the team, to now be able to play in this great side,” Levi gushes.

But even Levi is left gobsmacked by his older sibling – epitomised by Will’s 35-metre preliminary final goal against Collingwood in which he swung his boot and ‘soccer-kicked’ the Sherrin straight between the sticks.

“I actually said that was probably the best goal I’ve ever seen on field, and he said ‘it wasn’t that good’,” Levi laughs.

“He’s still very humble, but he does some amazing things. He just steps up in big moments, he’s always done that in all sports.”

It has not just been the nature Will’s finals exploits that add to the narrative he is a man tailor-made for the AFL’s biggest stage, with a breakdown of his statistics proving he finds another gear in do-or-die football.

His performance which made him the youngster Norm Smith Medal recipient yielded a goal, 30 disposals, six inside-50s and five clearances – an output which Lions teammate, fellow father-son draftee and close mate Jaspa Fletcher could have predicted when they played together in childhood.

“I played Queensland under-12s school footy with him, and back then I didn’t really know much about him,” Fletcher says, who has featured in grand finals in each of his three seasons in the AFL.

“I played a carnival with him, and I knew he was going to be a pretty good player. Ever since he’s been young he’s been destined to play AFL.

“He’s a big game player, he’s always built his preparation on that – he wants to be in the big games, and he wants to perform well.

“He’s only 21 now, I can’t imagine what he’s going to be like when he’s 25, 26 and in his peak.”

It is a lot to live up to for Levi.

Not only has his brother already proven he had the mettle to be one of the game’s leading stars for the next decade, but his father Marcus attained Lions’ immortality as a member of the triple-premiership side of the early 2000s.

But the 18-year-old, who Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney anticipated would thrive in his maiden grand final, dismissed any suggestion he felt pressure to carry on the family legacy.

Levi Ashcroft has declared he feels no pressure to live up to his family’s legacy.

“I wouldn’t say pressure, Will and dad are their own people, and I’m my own person. We’ve got the name Ashcroft, but I’m Levi, Will’s Will and Marcus is Marcus,” the speedy wingman says.

“They’ve had great careers, and I want to have a great career for myself. I feel comfortable playing in this environment, especially in finals.

“I feel like I’ve contributed in the last three games, played some good footy and done some good things. I’m just pumped to be able to be out there to do it again and hopefully prove myself.”

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