Why “unique’’ Glenelg teenager Ashton Moir is wowing recruiters

With an incredible sporting pedigree, it’s no wonder Ashton Moir has the AFL world at his feet – and his “weird” match superstition is helping keep recruiter eyes on him.

Top AFL draft prospect Ashton Moir in his Glenelg gear at Glenelg Oval. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Ashton Moir knows he is different.

While almost every player to have graced an Australian football ground would use their preferred foot to kick a set shot for goal directly in front with a grand final on the line, Moir would have to think twice.

That’s because he is ambipedal (the ability to use both feet equally well) and doesn't have a preferred kicking foot.

“It sounds a bit weird but the foot I’d use in that situation would depend on what foot I last kicked with,’’ Moir said.

“I genuinely don’t have a favoured kicking foot, so it’s become a bit of a superstition with taking it in turns with my left and right.

“So if I had a set shot directly in front I’d go with the opposite leg to what I last used.’’

Moir, a 188cm medium forward, is one out of the box.

Rated as South Australia’s top AFL draft prospect this year, the Glenelg excitement machine, remarkably, is equally adept on both sides of his body and is confident kicking 50 metres with his left and right feet.

“It’s just something that I’ve grown up doing, being able to kick equally well on both sides,’’ said the 17-year-old, who is a natural right-hander.

“I’ve been talking to dad about it and we think it comes down a little bit to genetics and also mum and dad’s ability to use both feet in their sport.’’

Ashton Moir shows his kicking prowess with his left foot. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

..... and his right. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Moir’s parents, Cynthia and Daniel, represented Australia at taekwondo – a sport where competitors must use both feet.

Cynthia, of Burmese descent, was a member of Australia’s 2000 Sydney Olympics team while Daniel was a national champion.

Daniel’s brother, Matt, also represented Australia in taekwondo.

“Because mum and dad had to be so good on both sides of their body they drilled into me at a young age, probably when I was six or seven, to use both feet equally,’’ Moir said.

“So I grew up with that mindset, trying to alternate my kicks all the time, and it quickly became natural for me.’’

SANFL under-18 academy manager and coach Tony Bamford said he had never seen a young player be able to kick so well on both sides of his body, describing him as “unique’’.

“The closest I’ve seen is (Western Bulldog) Caleb Daniel, who was really good on both sides with his short kicking, but Ashton can also go long,’’ said Bamford, who watched Moir bag a game-high four goals in an eye-catching display as an under-age prospect for South Australia against Western Australia at last year’s AFL under-18 championships.

“I’ve seen it at training when he’s having set shots and he’ll just swap sides from the same spot.

“You shake your head and go, ‘okay, this kid can do some things that you don’t see very often’. It’s very, very unusual but it’s a great skill to have.’’

While Moir alternates his set shot goalkicking when directly in front of the sticks, he said when he is on an angle he prefers to hook the ball towards goal and will use whichever foot that enables him to do that.

Bamford said if the 2023 AFL draft was held this week, Moir would almost certainly be the first Croweater selected.

Ashton Moir, 17, is a 188cm medium forward who is SA’s top AFL draft pick this year. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The gifted athlete, who kicked 30 goals in 10 games for Glenelg’s under-18s last season, is in the top five overall conversation.

Moir models his game on exciting Sydney All-Australian forward Isaac Heeney and Bamford said there were striking similarities with the way they played.

“I liken him to Heeney,’’ Bamford said.

“While his kicking is a real weapon, aerially he is really, really good too. He’s one of those players who tends to float through the air half a second longer than others.

“He’s a very difficult match-up because you wouldn’t classify him as a tall or small.

“Like with Heeney, if you put a big, strong, tall defender on him he will turn him inside out. If you put a smaller defender on him he will be too good one-on-one and sit on his head.

“That’s the big advantage he’s got.’’

Moir, a West Coast supporter from Sacred Heart College, has no shortage of mentors as he zeros in on a long coveted AFL career.

He has drawn inspiration from his parents’ sporting success, along with former star Adelaide 36ers basketballer Jerome Randle and ex Redbacks paceman Mark Harrity.

“Mum and dad have been massive for me, not only teaching me to kick on both sides of my body when I was young but showing the way with their professionalism and dedication to their chosen sport,’’ Moir said.

“They were self driven and mum sacrificed a lot when she was growing up to make it to the Olympics, so I’m trying to follow her path.

“I like the idea of sacrificing stuff to be the best you can be, whether it be not going to parties and things like that and instead doing recovery or late-night gym sessions to get the best out of your body, along with extra footy stuff.

“I’ve dreamt of being drafted for virtually my whole life and it would be pretty good if all the sacrifices you make paid off.’’

Left-arm speedster Harrity, who took 166 first-class wickets for SA from 1994-2003, is Moir's godfather through his close friendship with Daniel while Randle has become a key figure in his life after they met at a basketball stadium seven years ago.

Moir was a state under-age basketballer, playing point guard from under-12s through to under-18s, and “went through a stage where I liked basketball more than footy’’ before opting to go full steam ahead with his football two years ago.

After introducing himself to Randle as a 12-year-old – “I was a big fan boy,’’ Moir said – the pair struck up an unlikely friendship.

“We got chatting and he asked if I would like to have a training run with him and our relationship built from there,’’ said Moir, whose 15-year-old brother Koby is a promising basketballer.

“He became a big mentor for me off the court as much as on it, teaching me not only about basketball but how to become a better, more-rounded person and the sacrifices you need to make to make it to the top.

“He took me under his wing so much that I stayed with him on basketball visits to America and Sydney and I spoke to him about my decision to quit basketball in preference to football and he was fully supportive, telling me that deep down he always knew that I would choose football.

“He’s such a great person and is always there for me if I need any advice or to get anything off my chest, which is great.

“I’m pretty lucky to have a few people in my life who were pretty good at sport.’’

He might just be the best of them all.