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The father-son signing that spells trouble for the rest of the AFL

1 week ago 15
  •  Brother of the Norm Smith Medallist set to join the Lions
  •  Levi Ashcroft will join forces with older brother Will
  •  Pair are the sons of ex-Lions player Marcus Ashcroft

By James Cooney For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:55 BST, 1 October 2024 | Updated: 03:55 BST, 1 October 2024

Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft proved himself irrepressible on grand final day and says Lions fans can expect similar things from his younger brother Levi next season.

The Lions rebounded from last year's grand final heartbreak in stunning fashion, belting 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 on ground, looked absolutely unstoppable during the match.

He racked up 30 possessions and snapped an outstanding goal as the Lions mauled Sydney.

Ashcroft polled 14 votes to win ahead of Lions co-captain Lachie Neale (eight), while teammate Callum Ah Chee had seven and Kai Lohmann one.

The 20-year-old is the youngest Norm Smith medallist since Carlton's Wayne Harmes was crowned the inaugural winner at age 19 in 1979.

Astonishingly, it looks like the Lions will have an even stronger side next year with Levi Ashcroft and his first-round midfield mate Sam Marshall set to join the club.

The two players will find their way to the Lions due to the father-son and northern academy access rules that the competition won't change until next year.

Will Ashcroft is excited about teaming up with his brother Levi at Brisbane next season

Star midfielder Levi Ashcroft (pictured) has agreed to join the Lions as a father-son selection

Levi, a projected top-end draft pick, has pledged his services to the Lions and will come at a heavily discounted price and might just set the Lions on the path to becoming a dynasty.

'(Playing together) was definitely part of the decision making and same for Levi in the end as well,' Will Ashcroft told News Corp.

'We played five or six games at the Dragons together and were lucky enough to play in a premiership side together then. That was so fun and exciting for the family.

'My experiences playing alongside him were awesome so I thought it would be cool to do it at AFL level as well. To play at the club (Brisbane) that dad (Marcus Ashcroft) played for was also a big part of my decision making.'

Will says footy fans are in for a treat when his 17-year-old brother arrives.

'How we play is similar and people are already saying that having watched him play some VFL footy and junior footy, comparing it to my footy,' he said.

Brisbane's draft haul 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 see any challenge as too great and that's representative in both our games.

'I think Levi and I are a bit different in how we approach our footy,' he added.

'Levi doesn't like to talk too much about it outside of the footy club or when he's at training or those sort of things.

'I would say Levi and I, or dad and Levi, probably don't talk as much about footy. But I don't mind getting his (father Marcus') feedback at times.

'He (Levi) probably tries to distance himself from footy outside of training and games. I certainly enjoy doing things outside of footy as well, I try not to be too full-on with it, so I think we're similar in more ways than we are different.'

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