Less than a year after hurting his knee Brisbane Lions young gun is ready to play again

He still needs the final approval from the coach to play but if his teammates have their say Will Ashcroft will be an automatic pick for his return on Friday.

Teammates can’t wait for Will Ashcroft to return. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko says he’s been getting “flashbacks” of Will Ashcroft’s “brilliance” in his debut season as the former No.1 draft picks prepares for his AFL return from an ACL injury in Friday’s clash with Melbourne.

Ashcroft, who played 18 games in his rookie season before being cut down with the knee injury, is set to be thrust straight into the line-up without any VFL games, with the 20-year-old’s work at training considered “absolutely elite” by Zorko.

The Lions are on a roll having won three games in a row, including last week’s stunning take-down of Port Adelaide, leaving the Adelaide Oval with a 79-point win.

Throwing Ashcroft back into the mix could make last year’s beaten grand finalists an even scarier prospect, even though Zorko didn’t lock his teammate’s return in.

“He’s been doing some things at training that give you flashbacks to last year and the brilliance he showed in his first year,” Zorko said on Monday.

“He’s been training for a long time and his touch and hands look absolutely elite.

“That’ll be a decision the coaches have to work out … but seeing what I’m seeing at training, he looks more than capable of coming in and doing what he needs to.

“I’m glad I’m not in that (match) committee.

Will Ashcroft hurt his knee in round 19, 2023. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“It’s gonna be a welcome addition given the injuries that we’ve had. He’ll certainly add a lot of depth through our list now.”

The Lions have previously brought both Eric Hipwood and Cam Rayner straight back into the AFL side after their own recoveries from ACL injuries.

Last week, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said he had an “open mind” about doing the same with Ashcroft.

Despite their sluggish start to the 2024 season, the Lions sit just half a game outside the top eight with momentum and belief building and Zorko adamant, despite the dominance of the ladder-leading Sydney Swans, that the premiership is still “up for grabs”.

“I think it’s anyone’s. I think it might be one of those years where if you can just get there and be playing your best footy at the right time, you’re really a chance to win it,” he said, conceding the Lions couldn’t afford any more slips.

“Given our start to the season, we can’t be complacent with where we are.

“If we have aspirations of getting back to that last Saturday in September, we can’t be looking too far ahead.

“We have a job to do on Friday night against the Dees, who look like they might be undermanned, but we know their best football is extremely dangerous and we need to be fully equipped for that and we certainly won’t be taking any team lightly going forward.”

Originally published as Less than a year after hurting his knee Brisbane Lions young gun is ready to play again