- Brother of Norm Smith medalist to join Lions
- Levi Ashcroft will join forces with his older brother Will
- The couple are children of former Lions player Marcus Ashcroft
Norm Smith Medalist Will Ashcroft proved irrepressible on the grand final day and says Lions fans can expect similar things from his younger brother Levi next season.
The Lions bounced back from the heartbreak of last year’s grand final in stunning fashion, beating Sydney by 60 points to claim their first AFL premiership in more than two decades.
Will Ashcroft, who took home the Norm Smith medal for best ground game, looked absolutely unstoppable during the match.
He racked up 30 possessions and scored a rare goal as the Lions swept Sydney.
Ashcroft took 14 votes to win ahead of Lions co-captain Lachie Neale (eight), while team-mate Callum Ah Chee had seven and Kai Lohmann one.
The 20-year-old is the youngest Norm Smith medalist since Carlton’s Wayne Harmes was crowned the inaugural winner aged 19 in 1979.
Surprisingly, it looks like the Lions will have an even stronger squad next year with Levi Ashcroft and fellow first-round midfielder Sam Marshall set to join the club.
The two players will find their way to the Lions due to father-son access rules and the northern academy competition will not change until next year.
Will Ashcroft is excited to team up with his brother Levi in Brisbane next season.
Star midfielder Levi Ashcroft (pictured) has agreed to join the Lions as a father-son team.
Levi, a projected top draft pick, has pledged his services to the Lions and will come at a heavily discounted price and could put the Lions on the path to becoming a dynasty.
“(Playing together) was definitely part of the decision making and the same for Levi in the end as well,” Will Ashcroft said. News Corporation.
“We played five or six games together at the Dragons and we were lucky to play together in a top team. It was very fun and exciting for the family.
“My experiences playing alongside him were incredible so I thought it would be great to do it at AFL level as well. Playing for the club (Brisbane) that my dad (Marcus Ashcroft) played for was also a big part of my making of decisions.”
Will says football fans will be in for a treat when his 17-year-old brother arrives.
“The way we play is similar and people are already saying that having seen him play VFL football and junior football, they compare it to my football,” he said.
The Brisbane draft will be the envy of many clubs in the competition
“I think we both attack the game head-on and lead from the front and try to flourish in those big moments.
“We don’t consider any challenge to be too big and that is representative in both of our games.
“I think Levi and I are a little bit different in the way we approach our football,” he added.
‘Levi doesn’t like to talk about it too much outside of the football club or when he’s training or that sort of thing.
‘I would say that Levi and I, or dad and Levi, probably don’t talk about football that much. But sometimes I don’t mind getting feedback from him (Father Marcus).
“He (Levi) probably tries to distance himself from football outside of training and matches. I certainly enjoy doing things outside of football too, I try not to focus too much on it, so I think we are similar in more ways than different.
