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Despite Fremantle’s pleas for a shot after the final siren, North Melbourne posted a pulsating one-point victory at Optus Stadium. The Kangaroos looked home after Luke Davies-Uniacke kicked a 50m goal on the run to give the visitors a 20-point lead with under seven minutes remaining in Saturday’s match.
But two quick goals to Jaeger O’Meara and a major to defender Brennan Cox following a goal-line scrap reduced the margin to one point with less than two minutes to go, sending the 40,487-strong crowd into a frenzy. The ball lived in Fremantle’s forward 50m for almost the remainder of the match, and Dockers players pleaded for a free kick for a deliberate out of bounds after a clearing kick went out about 49m from goal.
Luckily for North Melbourne, the siren sounded a split second before the ball went over the boundary line, meaning fulltime was called with the Kangaroos leading 11.7 (73) to 10.12 (72). The result gave North Melbourne a perfect 2-0 start under new coach Alastair Clarkson, and capped off a week that involved more controversy around Tarryn Thomas, who has been stood down indefinitely after more allegations emerged of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
Kangaroos forward Nick Larkey booted four goals following on from his six-goal haul from last week, while former Docker Griffin Logue was a rock in defence against prized Fremantle recruit Luke Jackson and Matt Taberner. Emerging Kangaroos star Harry Sheezel continued his hot start to his AFL career with 30 disposals, while Davies-Uniacke racked up 11 clearances from his 30 possessions.
Caleb Serong tallied a team-high 31 disposals for the Dockers, but Jackson was scoreless from 10 disposals and took just one mark despite having lots of opportunities. Fremantle suffered a big blow before the match when two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe was a late scratching with a foot injury.
Handling errors, dropped marks, and some curious umpire decisions hurt Fremantle early as North Melbourne booted the first four goals of the match - including two to Larkey. Dockers forward Taberner thought he kicked the opener after taking a mark on the behind line and then nailing his set-shot snap. But after the goal was kicked, the umpire called for the mark to be reviewed, with vision showing the ball wasn’t completely in Taberner’s control as he crossed the line.
It took until the 27th-minute mark for Fremantle to kick their first goal of the match via a Sam Switkowski major on the run. A goal to Michael Frederick shortly after reduced the margin to 10 points at quarter time, and the gap was eight points at the main break following a tight second term that featured just two goals. The momentum swung Fremantle’s way during the third quarter, with substitute Michael Walters igniting the crowd with a diving fingertip mark followed by a snapped goal. That moment of magic reduced the margin to two points, but a 63m goal on the run by Jayden Stephenson ensured the gap was back out to 10 by the final change.
The last quarter became a topsy-turvy affair, with North Melbourne pulling away before Fremantle’s late comeback fell just short.
Credit: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/kangaroos-beat-dockers-by-a-point-after-frenzied-finish-20230325-p5cv9d.html
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Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is prepared to live with the umpire’s controversial decision not to award a free kick for deliberate out of bounds on the final siren of his team’s one-point loss to North Melbourne.
But he will seek clarity from the AFL about why Matt Taberner’s goal in the first term was cancelled by a late score review.
The Dockers 11.7 (73) to 12.12 (72) loss made it their second defeat in as many weeks to start the season, but the extraordinary finish became the main talking point.
North Melbourne defender Daniel Howe desperately kicked the ball to the boundary line with just seconds remaining and it went out of bounds as the siren rang.
The ball needed to cross the line before the siren to be a free kick.
The AFL did not respond to a request for comment about the incident and Longmuir said it was too close for him to know what occurred.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure on the rules. I trust that the umpire got it right,” Longmuir said.
“My gut feel is we would have stolen it if we had have got a shot on goal and have had drawn or won it. I trust the umpire got it right.”
But Longmuir wasn’t as comfortable with a score review being called about 20 seconds after Taberner had taken a mark on the behind line in the first quarter.
The forward kicked the goal and then a review was called which found a behind should have initially been called.
Those six points would have been crucial to the final result and Longmuir said he was surprised by the way the review was called.
“It looked different to the way they’ve done it in the past. I’ve seen them review that before the goal is kicked in the past. I’ll seek some clarification from the AFL,” he said.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was confident his team deserved to win after leading by 20 points during time-on and then surviving a dramatic Fremantle fightback including three goals in less than four minutes.
“My understanding is the siren went while the ball was still in play. That’s just my naked observation of it. I’m not sure if that’s the case or not,” Clarkson said.
“We’d been in front all day. I feel like we played a brand of footy that really served it up to the Freo side and made it tough for them. We’d have been really stiff if we’d have lost that game of footy. If the lap of the gods was with us just for that last bit, I think our footy club deserves it just this once.”
The 0-2 start now makes the round three western derby an even more important clash as the Dockers try to kick start their season.
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Credit: https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/fremantle-dockers-coach-justin-longmuir-backs-umpires-call-in-dramatic-loss-c-10154164
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After strong wins in round 1 for both teams, the MCG will host a tantalizing Collingwood vs Port Adelaide clash. Port absolutely dominated the Brisbane Lions in their opening match, while Collingwood overran defending premiers Geelong. Collingwood vs Port Adelaide is at the MCG on Saturday 25 March at 1.45pm AEDT.
The 7 Network and Foxtel share rights to broadcast AFL matches in Australia and there are 2 ways to watch Collingwood vs Port Adelaide. If you live in SA you can catch Collingwood vs Port Adelaide live and free on Channel 7. But from anywhere else in the country you need Fox Footy to tune in, which leaves Foxtel Now, Foxtel iQ and Kayo as your only options to stream the match nationwide if you're outside of SA.
If you're a new user, Foxtel Now comes with a 10-day free trial. That means you can watch this AFL game at no cost. No installation and no lock-in contract. New customers only. Sign up now. Foxtel Now shows every game of the regular AFL Premiership season live and once your free trial is up, you'll need to have the Sport pack as part of your subscription to keep watching. This costs $54 a month. For that price you get not only sport but entertainment content too.
To watch Collingwood vs Port Adelaide on Foxtel iQ, you need the Sports HD pack, which costs $74 a month and has no free trial. Foxtel iQ offers the same content as Foxtel Now, except you watch on the iQ box instead of streaming over the internet. Plus, every AFL game is live in 4K Ultra HD. Similar to Foxtel Now, Kayo allows you to watch the entire AFL season (apart from the Grand Final) live and ad-free. New customers can use this 7-day free trial and test it all out plus watch Collingwood vs Port Adelaide at no cost. Take Kayo Sports for a spin and stream over 50 sports live completely free for 7 days.
Both teams had similar victories in round 1 last week. Collingwood trailed Geelong for most of their round 1 clash, before kicking the final 8 goals of the game to end Geelong's 16-game winning streak. But the Pies will be without veteran Jeremy Howe, who injured his arm in a sickening collision. Collingwood had many players strong across the field in their first match, including the Daicos brothers, Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell in his first AFL premiership game for the club. Another club debutant also shone for Port Adelaide, who trounced Brisbane Lions by 52 points. Jason Horne-Francis had plenty of disposals and clearances in his first run for the Power, after joining from North Melbourne.
These 2 teams were the 2 highest points scorers of round 1, so we'd expect another high scoring affair here. But someone would have to come out of the gate faster to make their mark. With a home ground advantage, we think that might be the Magpies.
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Under the guidance of new coach Alastair Clarkson, North Melbourne secured a nail-biting one-point victory over Fremantle. The match was played in Perth, and the Roos claimed victory after a dramatic last-minute decision by the umpires. The final result was 11.7 (73) to 10.12 (72).
The tense match finished amidst chaotic circumstances. North Melbourne sub Daniel Howe kicked for the boundary as the siren sounded, with the decision being made that the siren sounded before the ball crossed the boundary for insufficient intent. This controversial decision prevented what would have been a Fremantle shot on goal from 50m out.
Matt Taberner snapped what appeared to be a brilliant goal from a juggled mark, but the umpires reviewed the attempt and discovered that the mark was incomplete. The goal was disallowed, and a behind was signalled. Fremantle were then penalised when Jye Amiss kicked the footy away, and North Melbourne took control, with Nick Larkey getting the team on the board first.
The Roos led throughout the first half of the game, with Larkey scoring two goals and helping his team pile on four straight. Fremantle finally scored its first goal with just two minutes remaining in the quarter, thanks to Switkowski. Despite their dominance, North Melbourne only had a six-point lead at the main change.
During the third quarter, both sides traded goals early on, with Bailey Banfield scoring a brilliant snap to narrow the gap. North Melbourne still went into the final change leading by ten.
The final quarter was a test of North's mental strength as the young side was forced to overcome the vocal Perth crowd. Fremantle managed to score three goals in a matter of minutes to close within one point but was unable to find a target inside 50.
New coach Alastair Clarkson's game plan seems to be paying off for North Melbourne. The Roos piled on four straight goals at the beginning of the match, which was a marked improvement over their last game against Fremantle.
For the second week in a row, Taberner was subbed out of the contest, due to his inability to make an impact. He also missed several opportunities during the game, including a set shot that he rushed and failed to score with. Commentators criticized Taberner's game, saying that he needs to be more effective as a leading target.
Andy Brayshaw, Fremantle's vice-captain, led the way for the team with an impressive performance. He put his body on the line early in the game, leading to the team's first goal, and ran himself ragged trying to get the team back in the match in the second quarter. Commentators praised his running and defensive efforts.
The young North Melbourne team has shown remarkable progress under new coach Alastair Clarkson. The team has grown and improved from their last four losses against Fremantle, where they lost by an average of 68 points.
Credit: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-2023-fremantle-dockers-vs-north-melbourne-kangaroos-round-2-live-updates-scores-news-stats-stream-highlights-video-report/news-story/5362605aabf8c3d90179a55acc850f19
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The Carlton Reserves have locked in their team of 23 for their season opener at IKON Park tonight. Kicking off the VFL campaign at home for the second year running, the VFL Blues have named 14 AFL-listed players for the Round 1 clash.
Included in that contingent is Lachie Fogarty, who will return for his first game of 2023 after undergoing back surgery in the off-season. Although he was initially named in the side last night, Marc Pittonet won’t feature in the VFL after being a late call-up for the AFL team’s win. Lochie O’Brien will front up in the VFL tonight after being activated as sub in last night’s clash with the reigning premiers.
The Blues will have a backline full of AFL-listed names, with Dom Akuei, Alex Cincotta, Sam Durdin, Brodie Kemp and Lachie Plowman all named: they’ll be joined by Luke Parks, the former Carlton AFL rookie who signed with the VFL program for 2023.
After three goals last week in the final practice match, Harry Lemmey is one of three players to make his VFL debut, alongside fellow first-year Blues Jaxon Binns and Hudson O’Keeffe. Paddy Dow and Jack Carroll will hold down key midfield posts at the feet of Alex Mirkov and O’Keeffe.
Alongside Parks, key VFL recruits Liam McMahon and Ben Ronke will both feature for the Blues, who will be led by sole captain Ben Crocker for the first time. The game will be live-streamed on the AFL website.
The VFLW Blues have also named a strong team to take on Port Melbourne in their Round 1 clash.
Credit: https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/1289933/vfl-team-news-fogarty-returns-for-round-1
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The Footscray Bulldogs were defeated by Casey Demons in their 2023 VFL season opener at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs put up a fight as they entered opposition territory for their first match of the 2023 VFL season, but it was Casey who dominated possession to overrun the visitors 13.16 (94) to 8.9 (57). The ‘Scray were rusty early, but found their feet with Cooper Craig-Peters recording three intercept marks, assisting AFL-listed Bulldog Jason Johannisen’s explosive goal from the 50m mark.
The second term opened with the Dogs battling the Demons for possession with Casey scoring two goals. However, an explosive last five minutes saw goals from Buku Khamis, Mitch Hannan, and Ewan Macpherson to bring the ‘Scray back into the game. The second half saw both teams hungry to take the win and looked like it would turn into a nail-biter as the Dogs came as close as a two-point margin, after goals from Luke Goater and debutant Charlie Clarke.
The Demons were ultimately too strong, kicking away to a 24-point margin at the last break, leaving the boys in red, white and blue unable to steal the victory. Hannan kicked two magnificent goals and 20 disposals, while Johannisen recorded 17 disposals and one goal. Khamis had a dominant presence, moving into the forward line kicking one goal and five marks. Making their red, white, and blue debuts, Caleb Poulter and Jay Rantall worked their way into VFL level, recording 14 disposals 20 disposals respectively. Clarke also registered his first official hit-out in Footscray colours, hitting the scoreboard with a brilliant goal in the third term. The reigning Club Champion and team captain, Lachie Sullivan celebrated his return by starting in the centre to record 25 disposals in his 50th VFL game.
The Bulldogs will look to seek redemption taking on Brisbane at Marvel Stadium next Thursday afternoon at 3:45 pm.
The Western Bulldogs have submitted their team to face Casey in the opening round of the 2023 VFLW season. Footscray has submitted its team for the opening round of the VFL season. The Bulldogs have made four changes ahead of their Round 2 clash against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night. Luke Beveridge speaks to the media ahead of Round 2. Join Brad Johnson & John Donohoe as they preview our first home game for the season against St Kilda, thanks to Pedigree.
Don't miss out on being a part of the crowd as the Bulldogs return to Marvel Stadium for the first time in 2023. The Western Bulldogs Official App is your one-stop-shop for all your latest team News, Videos, Player Profiles, Scores, and Stats delivered LIVE to your smartphone or tablet!
Western Bulldogs acknowledge that we reside on traditional lands of the Kulin Nation. We offer our respect to the Elders of these traditional lands and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples past, present, and emerging.
Credit: https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1290869/vfl-report-round-1
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Richmond coach Damien Hardwick insists there was nothing sinister or serious about the Tigers’ surprise call to place Dustin Martin on ice midway through the final quarter of Saturday’s win against Adelaide.
Hardwick didn’t expand on the specifics of Martin’s physical concern but confirmed the short turnaround ahead of this Friday’s MCG blockbuster against high-flying Collingwood played a part in the decision to curtail the 31-year-old’s afternoon.
While Martin is unlikely to miss against the Magpies, Richmond will almost certainly be without the services of three-time premiership defender Nathan Broad, whose first-quarter sling tackle of Patrick Parnell left the Crows youngster concussed. “Nathan came and apologised to me, and he’ll apologise to the young man [Parnell] as well,” Hardwick said.
Midfield generator Jacob Hopper, arguably the most influential player in the Tigers’ rampant first half, hurt his right ankle in a crunching Rory Laird tackle in the opening moments of the fourth period. Hardwick expects him to be available for the Collingwood clash.
Richmond’s first-half ascendancy in the clinches - they ranked 14th in the competition for clearances in 2023 - on the back of a similar strong showing in that department in their opening-night draw against Carlton, suggests prosperous times ahead for the Tigers’ revamped engine room.And that’s with Martin and Trent Cotchin, both in the conversation for Richmond’s greatest-ever midfielder, having rarely attended a centre bounce across the season’s opening fortnight. The long-term, off-season addition of prized recruits Hopper and Tim Taranto has transformed Richmond’s on-ball muscle, virtually overnight.
Richmond denied Adelaide’s hard charge for miracle-making history, notching their first win of 2023 after fending off a furious second-half Crows revival.
Adelaide slashed their 45-point half-time deficit to one point at the 12-minute mark of the final quarter and had their gaze firmly affixed on conjuring their biggest come-from-behind victory.
The Tigers, with gun acquisitions Taranto and Hopper prominent and Noah Balta ascendant in the air, awoke from their prolonged slumber to put to rest Adelaide’s ferocious fightback.
Ranked a lowly 14th in clearances last year, Richmond, as they did in their opening-night draw against Carlton, showcased their overhauled thirst for the centre-square contest. This time it was fellow ex-Giant Hopper who proved the most influential player on the park, particularly in the opening half.
Laird, uncharacteristically quiet last week against the Giants, stood mightily tall to lead Adelaide’s fightback.
Ryan entered Saturday’s clash with one career game - back in 2021 - in which he didn’t collect a single disposal. A strong pre-season earned the towering forward a belated recall, and he repaid that faith with an early goal - with the first possession of his AFL career.
Best: Richmond - Hopper, Taranto, Balta, Prestia, D. Rioli, Nankervis, Baker. Adelaide - Laird, Sholl, Fogarty, Dawson, Rachele, Walker.
Credit: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-put-a-crows-miracle-to-bed-open-their-winning-account-20230325-p5cv7n.html
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Richmond has managed to hold off an incredible fightback from Adelaide, winning their first match of the season in a thrilling game on Saturday. Although the Crows trailed by as much as 45 points, they managed to close the gap to within a single point in the last quarter.
A late comeback from Adelaide was not enough to catch the Tigers, who secured a 32-point victory by booting three goals in three minutes, thanks to efforts from Rhyan Mansell, Trent Cotchin, and second-gamer Samson Ryan. Richmond managed to have 12 individual goalkickers, making for a strong team performance.
Two key recruits for Richmond, Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, were among the standout players for the Tigers, with Taranto earning 28 disposals and Hopper earning 23 touches. The pair was given lucrative seven-year contracts after playing for Greater Western Sydney. Tom Lynch and Samson Ryan also played key roles in the match, each booting three goals for Richmond.
Crows ball magnet Rory Laird bounced back from a disappointing opening round to earn a game-high 38 disposals, while younger players Lachlan Sholl, Josh Rachele, and Jake Soligo were instrumental in the team's impressive turnaround.
From the start, it was clear that the Tigers had the advantage, with Darcy Fogarty's opening goal in the first minute being the only goal scored by the Crows in the first half. Richmond went on to score nine straight goals, leading at halftime by an impressive 45 points.
The Crows came back strong in the third quarter of the game, kicking five goals to one on the back of a 24-7 inside 50 count. They brought the margin back to a manageable 14 points at three-quarter time and managed to close the gap to a solitary point thanks to goals from Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty.
Nathan Broad, a defender for the Tigers, may face action from the Match Review Committee after a dangerous sling tackle on Crows defender Patrick Parnell in the opening quarter. The tackle ruled Parnell out of the rest of the game and is likely to earn Broad a review.
Adelaide made some critical mistakes in the game, including conceding six straight goals when Rory Laird went inside the forward 50. Instead of setting up a quality chance, Laird's poor disposal resulted in a turnover that allowed the Tigers to go the length of the ground and score.
Last week, Tim Taranto was the standout for Richmond. This week, his ex-Giants teammate Jacob Hopper was equally impressive, with a standout performance in the first half of the game. The addition of these experienced players has allowed Richmond to deploy Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin forward of the ball.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions for fans, with the Tigers ultimately coming out on top. As always, the AFL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia and their continued connection to culture and country.
Credit: https://www.afl.com.au/news/888220/richmond-tigers-survive-a-massive-scare-from-comeback-adelaide-crows
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Collingwood issued a warning to the rest of the competition in 2023 with a stylish and comprehensive 71-point victory over Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. The Magpies' all-action game style was on show, particularly in a first-half demolition when they piled on nine goals in a row, after Port kicked three of the first five, before running out winners 21.9 (135) to 9.10 (64).
Both sides came into the game after impressive round one victories against premiership contenders, but the Magpies walked away with a statement win enhancing their own flag credentials. Collingwood was efficient, kicking six goals from its first 12 inside 50s and booting 21 goals from 352 disposals for the game. The Pies won a lopsided contested possession count (155-98), along with 38-25 hitouts, helping a 39-27 clearance advantage.
Nick and Josh Daicos were outstanding, the former shaking off an early Lachie Jones tag to finish with a game-high 32 disposals with 11 score involvements and six inside 50s. Pies ruckman Darcy Cameron was influential, having 18 disposals with four contested marks and 29 hitouts for the game, while veterans Steele Sidebottom and Pendlebury contributed excellently, the latter having a joint game-high six tackles. Brody Mihocek and Charlie Dixon managed three goals each for their teams.
Key defender Billy Frampton was hardly a glamorous off-season acquisition for the Pies, but the loss of Jeremy Howe to a broken forearm means he will take on an important role. Frampton lined up against Charlie Dixon in his club debut and gave away a clumsy 50m penalty leading to the opening goal but settled as the contest wore on and finished with five marks. That will please Pies fans in the knowledge he can cover Howe's absence, freeing up the likes of Darcy Moore, who had a game-high 10 intercept possessions.
The Power hinted they may be back to their 2020 and 2021 best with their round one second-half demolition of Brisbane, but they were brought back to earth with a big thud by the Pies. After an underwhelming 2022 season, where they missed the finals altogether, the jury is out on Hinkley's side who conceded their highest score since round 22, 2019, with Collingwood's forward line completely overwhelming them every time the ball entered their 50. It's amazing to think Port were hammered by almost 12 goals, yet only lost the inside 50 counts 57-47.
There had been plenty of discussion about tagging Nick Daicos in the lead-up to this game, with Pies coach Craig McRae stating he would if he was the opposition coach and Ken Hinkley obliged, with Jones starting on him. That seemed wise after Daicos had a quiet opening few minutes. However, after working hard to win the ball and having an equal game-high nine disposals by quarter-time, Hinkley subsequently dropped the tag in the second. Daicos' work rate and Collingwood's desire to get the ball in his hands means teams attempting to tag him may have to think again.
In the spirit of reconciliation, the AFL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Credit: https://www.afl.com.au/news/888205/party-pies-collingwood-cuts-port-adelaide-power-apart-in-mcg-mauling
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When Will Ashcroft was in the midst of his draft year dominating against players his own age, most recruiters declared he was good enough – and ready – then to play in the AFL, let alone come Round 1, 2023.
On Friday night in just his second game against arguably the league’s best midfield brigade, the 18-year-old justified those suggestions from 12 months ago.
Ashcroft – the son of triple premiership Lion Marcus Ashcroft who was taken with Pick 2 in last year’s draft – was one of Brisbane’s best players in its tight win over Melbourne, kicking 1.1 and finishing with team-high disposals (31), contested possessions (15) and clearances (9) from 81 per cent game time.
“That’s how he’s been playing all pre-season,” Lions coach Chris Fagan told reporters post-game.
“He‘s a fine young footballer.
“He was terrific. He can find the ball and he can set things up for us. If he can get somewhere near that most weeks that‘d be a terrific result from a first-year player, but there’s a long way in the season to go.”
For many pundits, Ashcroft entered the 2023 season as ready-made as any teenager that’s ever been drafted to the AFL and, quite rightly, the white-hot Rising Star favourite.
Therefore his Round 1 performance against Port Adelaide – one goal from 13 disposals in a hefty 54-point loss – was relatively subdued compared to the lofty external standards.
In a slightly different role – he started on a wing and attended just eight centre bounces for the night – Ashcroft showed terrific composure and footy nous in a high-pressure game against a quality opposition.
“He’s so good, oh my goodness,” Lions veteran Dayne Zorko told Fox Footy post-game. “I can’t praise the kid enough.
“You’re always careful as to what you say about these young kids that come in because they obviously get compared to the greats of the game, but honestly it‘s been incredible what he’s been able to do since he’s been at the football club.
“He was fortunate enough to train with us over the summer in the past few years, so he’s fitted in seamlessly. We’re just starting to touch the surface on him. He’s a weapon, to be honest, nothing flusters him. He just hunts the ball and gets going.”
Former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon pointed out that Ashcroft had four crucial possessions that cleared danger for the Lions during Melbourne’s late five-goal blitz.
“He was unbelievable – and I say that in the nicest possible way because there was too much pressure on him last week,” Dixon told Fox Footy Live.
“When you talk about the high draft picks and what their potential is, he was in the pressure cooker tonight right in the middle and he showed some really good class. Remember, this is a kid, this is a baby playing for the Brisbane Lions.
“Just some of the deft touches when you don’t have the ball in your hands and you’re going to handball and kick, those little knock-ons and kicks off the ground … he showed he has some really good composure.”
Triple All-Australian Nick Dal Santo added: “It’s the style of play I liked about him. We saw Harry Sheezel last week and the way he instantly had an impact for the Kangaroos in their win, well this was the same style of play.
“This is a young man that’s got the football smarts and nous to know what to do against what I think is the best midfield in the competition. For him to be able to do this on a Friday with the bright lights – well for a period of time – I was really impressed and he’s just going to grow.”
Before Ashcroft was officially drafted by the Lions, he was unofficially living a full-time professional footballer lifestyle.
He built an outstanding fitness foundation during the Covid years to position himself to launch straight into an AFL career and play senior football straight away. Then during his draft year, he was meticulous with his week-to-week routine – ice baths, beach recoveries and stretching were in-season recovery priorities, while he often did extra weight sessions – and metronomically consistent on the field, leading to him claiming almost every honour possible, both individually and collectively.
Recruiters and fellow players were blown away by Ashcroft’s professionalism last year. And that has translated into the AFL.
“You’d be a brave man to suggest Will Ashcroft won’t end up captaining this side,” five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
“He’s played two games of footy, the raps were enormous – and (on Friday night) he was extraordinary. He looked as calm and composed and polished as anyone else on the ground.”
Barring a ridiculous performance by an eligible rival player, Ashcroft will almost certainly receive the Round 2 AFL Rising Star nomination. And Lions legend Jonathan Brown said it’d be the first of many standout games from Ashcroft this year.
“He could have the same impact in his first year as Sam Walsh and Nick Daicos did,” Brown told Fox Footy.
“There’s a maturity about him, mentally and physically.”
Credit: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/brisbane-lions/afl-news-2023-will-ashcroft-stats-from-brisbane-lions-win-over-melbourne-dad-draft-hype-dayne-zorko-interview/news-story/ca6deb756d67e6771913329881d18a03
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