By Murray Wenzel
Conspiracy theories were running wild when a rogue camera was spotted on the Springfield hill during a closed pre-season Brisbane Lions AFL session.
Could it be another club snooping on a premiership threat? A television crew disobeying orders?
Will Ashcroft won the Rising Star award against the Demons last week, when he became the quickest player in AFL history to have a game of at least 30 disposals, nine clearances and one goal.Credit:Getty
A Lions staff member approached the mystery cameraman and got a surprising answer.
“I’m here to film Will.”
The Lions boast a sparkling new, state-of-the art high-performance base at Brighton Homes Arena.
But Will Ashcroft, the Lions’ father-son draft pick, had arranged for a mate to provide another layer of analysis as he prepared for his debut season.
Coaches forgave the 18-year-old for not clearing it with them first, then – having never seen anything like it – shook their heads in disbelief at the professionalism that belied his age.
But for Ashcroft, the son of former Lions star and inaugural Gold Coast football boss Marcus, it was just another day at the office.
Will Ashcroft was the No.2 pick at last year’s draft as a Lions father-son selection. His father, Marcus Ashcroft, played for the Brisbane Bears/Lions from 1989 to 2003.Credit:Getty
“I’ve always liked to dive deep into it; Dad’s wired pretty similarly and we’ve had conversations ever since I was really young and right up until last week,” Ashcroft said after collecting the round two Rising Star nomination.
“I enjoy that and think it gets the best out of me.”
The teenager shone in the midfield and on a wing in the Lions’ bounce-back defeat of Melbourne that followed a humbling first-up loss to Port Adelaide.
He’s the youngest Lion to register 30 or more disposals, and the quickest in AFL history to have a game of at least 30 disposals, nine clearances and one goal.
Toby Greene previously held that record, at 11 games.
A hot favourite to claim this year’s Rising Star gong, the only surprise was that his nomination didn’t come a week earlier.
“I have full belief and confidence in myself to improve on last week,” Ashcroft said.
“I’ve got so many areas I can do better in.
“The last two weeks I haven’t had a mark yet, so I’m looking forward to breaking the game open, getting some more uncontested ball and doing damage that way.”
Ashcroft’s attention to detail is already famous at the Lions and it isn’t confined to their new training centre as he prepares to launch his own performance and wellbeing app.
But he has learnt to tune out, too.
“I try and switch off a little bit and have found a better balance now,” he told AAP.
“I love golf and going to the beach, and have some good mates outside of footy.
“But especially last week (after losing to Port Adelaide); I like to make sure my footy’s at a certain level and if I’m not there I’ll invest some time so I get back to that point.”
