Brisbane young gun and Rising Star favourite Will Ashcroft suffers ACL injury
Brilliant Brisbane midfielder Will Ashcroft is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after scans confirmed the Rising Star favourite has torn his ACL.
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St Kilda’s triple best and fairest winner Leigh Montagna says Will Ashcroft should still win the Rising Star award despite confirmation he has torn his ACL in a season-ending injury.
The brilliant Brisbane midfielder received the heartbreaking diagnosis on Sunday morning after scans confirmed his knee injury was an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
It means he will miss his first finals series in his debut year and be out for much of the 2024 season.
Rising Star markets were suspended on Sunday morning but a player who was as short as $1.80 for the award with TAB will now face a nervous wait given Harry Sheezel, Mitch Owens and Jy Amiss are all still contenders.
Lions football boss Danny Daly said on Sunday the Lions were “hurting” for their star first-year player.
“We are all hurting for Will because you never want to see any player experience a serious injury, especially a player in their first season,” he said.
“Will is super professional in everything he does, so we know he will do everything he can to recover from this.
“Our main priority is for everyone at the club to wrap their arms around Will and do everything we can to support him and his family in any way we can.”
Fox Footy analyst Montagna told the Herald Sun he still believed Ashcroft was in the box seat to win the award given his stunning season playing midfield in one of footy’s best onball units.
“He can still win it. It’s based on a body of work. I think it’s all about his impact in a top team. He has made a difference in that Brisbane midfield,” he said.
“Not many first year players can step into the starting midfield in one of the best teams in the competition and not only step in but have a significant impact. That body of work alone should be enough.
“He is the clubhouse leader as of Round 19 and one of Sheezel or Owens would need to have an outstanding finish to the season to beat him.
“If Sheezel can lead the Kangaroos to a win or if Owens can lead a young forward line to a finals berth, then that’s their opportunity to win it.”
Brisbane will need to rejig its midfield make-up but at least has depth in that position given the recruitment of Josh Dunkley and the recent strong form of Jarryd Lyons, who missed last year’s finals as he battled injury.
The Lions are still well entrenched in the top four and are only a game behind second-placed Brisbane after the Power’s loss to Collingwood and the Lions’ victory over Geelong in round 19.
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