Revelling in the aftermath of his historic grand final exploits, Will Ashcroft was asked if his rapid AFL ascent surprised him.
His response was not one of arrogance, it was one of steely resolve, and it typified why he has already dominated the game’s biggest stage.
“I’m not sure if I’ve surprised myself, because I’ve set myself up for this since I was 12,” Ashcroft replied.
The Lions’ Will Ashcroft poses with fans after winning the 2024 AFL Grand Final.Credit: Getty Images
“This is what I’ve always wanted to do.”
But even since the Brisbane Lions star became the youngest Norm Smith Medal winner of the AFL era, he has not forgotten that the game is bigger than the players who take the field.
Rewind 15 months, when his debut season ended with a ruptured ACL, and the now 20-year-old admits he endured a harrowing mental battle.
But whenever the enormity of his plight became overwhelming, he visited the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
The young midfielder believes it is crucial for elite athletes to give back to those who supported them; to those who donned their club colours and shouted their names.
However, the experience fuelled something else in Ashcroft – an understanding that no matter how low he sank, others were enduring far worse.
Will Ashcroft became the AFL’s youngest Norm Smith medallist when the Brisbane Lions defeated Sydney by 60 points this year.Credit: Getty Images
“I became really passionate about it once I did my ACL last year, it gave me a lot of perspective that it [the game] is greater than just myself and my inner circle,” he told this masthead.
“It broadened my outlook on it and gave me a bit of drive to try and get back to where I can.
“You can get really caught up in your own stuff sometimes. For me, I was pretty down, and probably had every right to be, but I think the perspective allowed me to – in a challenging time for me – give back to others.
“To get out of my mind and help others and understand that people are struggling as well – if not more so – was what it allowed me to do, and it gave me an outlet and something to be passionate about while I was on the sidelines.
“When you’re driven by passion, it makes it pretty easy to throw your time behind it and be invested all the time.”
Ashcroft has gone on to become an ambassador for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, visiting sick kids frequently in an attempt to bring them some joy.
He has now put his signed grand final boots up for auction, with all proceeds going towards the cause. Bidding links can be found on his social media accounts and those of the foundation until November 15.
Ashcroft has barely rested since his grand final heroics, balancing his time off between hospital visits and expanding his business, WASH Performance.
Founded alongside two of his close mates, the initiative delivers training programs to aspiring athletes, and has recently been taken into schools and clubs.
The hope, Ashcroft says, is they can take it nationwide – beginning in Melbourne and South Australia.
But even with such a full schedule, he is salivating at the thought of a preseason return on November 25.
Not just for the chance to forge a dynasty of his own – to rival that of his three-time premiership-winning father, Marcus Ashcroft – but because of the launch of his brother, Levi’s, AFL career.
The Lions will have first dibs on exciting father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft, who’s likely to be picked up in the first five draft selections.
The teenage sensation is expected to join the Lions as a father-son draftee, and has made his reserve-grade debut for the club, finishing with a goal, 35 disposals and 11 clearances.
“He’s already up here in Queensland training, and he’s in the club often, sometimes out there on his own just grinding,” Ashcroft said.
“He can’t wait. If he wasn’t driven enough before, he certainly is now after seeing what happened last year. In a lot of sense, we’re similar, we have a very close relationship … we just get each other really well.
“He’ll be a great addition, not only as a footballer, with his combination of inside work and outside work, but also what he will contribute to the club.”
The thought of the pair combining on the field, just as they did in their family backyard, is a prospect that should have Lions fans eagerly awaiting the first bounce of 2025.
Despite achieving the highest of highs as Brisbane ended a two-decade premiership drought, Ashcroft has refused to rest on his laurels.
“I’m obviously stoked it all occurred, and so grateful for everything, but I’m turning my attention to the next season and what I can start doing now to help hit the ground running,” he said.
“I’ve only played 31 games, so I’ve got a lot to grow and football to go.”
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