AFL Draft 2024: Levi Ashcroft, Luke Trainor, Josh Smillie light up AFL Academy match
A highly-rated father-son prospect was named best-on-ground in the AFL Academy’s second match against Footscray’s VFL side on Saturday. But a key defender has thrown his name up in lights.
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Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft further boosted his draft credentials with a powerful performance against a strong VFL side on Saturday.
Ashcroft was named best afield for the AFL Academy team in an exhibition match against Footscray’s VFL side at Whitten Oval.
Footscray – which sits unbeaten atop of the VFL ladder – fielded 14 AFL-listed players in the match, including Ryley Sanders, Oskar Baker, Alex Keath, Ryan Gardner and Lachie McNeil.
MATCH SNAPSHOT
AFL Academy: 1.3, 4.4, 7.5, 7.8 (50)
Footscray VFL: 4.2, 8.3, 12.4, 16.9 (105)
Goals – AFL Academy: Jobe Shanahan 2, Tyler Welsh, Sam Lalor, Harvey Langford, Luke Trainor, Jagga Smith. Footscray: Charlie Clarke 3, Ryan Gardner 3, Lachie Smith 2, Cooper Craig-Peters 2, Oskar Baker, Dominic Bedendo, Jordan Croft, Billy Crofts, Phoenix Spicer, Kai Stretton.
Best – AFL Academy: Levi Ashcroft, Josh Smillie, Jagga Smith, Luke Trainor, Bo Allan, Tobie Travaglia. Footscray: Lachie Smith, Jarrod Gilbee, Ryley Sanders, Charlie Clarke, Alex Keath, Trent Bianco.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
Levi Ashcroft
29 disposals, 4 marks, 6 clearances, 3 tackles
Won the medal as the most influential player on the ground for the AFL Academy side. Played onball for most of the match and was clean in the thick of the action, while also generating some run and link-up play.
Josh Smillie
27 disposals, 4 marks
The potential No.1 draft pick started in the midfield before spending time across half-forward and half-back as the onballers were rotated around. Missed a couple of early chances in front of goal, but was able to show off his booming kick at times as well as his size and strength as he shrugged off some tackling attempts from VFL opponents.
Jagga Smith
22 disposals, 5 marks, 3 clearances, 1 goal
Played more midfield minutes and impressed with his speed and agility around contest. He spun out of trouble to launch a kick inside-50 and set up a Jobe Shanahan goal during the second quarter. Also took some nice marks, hit some look-away handballs and kicked a third-quarter goal when he worked into space over the back of the Footscray defence in the third quarter.
Luke Trainor
21 disposals, 4 marks, 8 rebound-50s, 1 goal
The 194cm intercept defender was best-on-ground for the AFL Academy in their first match a fortnight ago and again shone brightly. He took two nice intercept marks in the opening minutes of the match and was clean and composed as he provide some rebound out of the back half. He showed good body work in one-on-one contests against bigger and stronger opponents and kicked a goal from long-range in the second quarter after being the recipient of a 50m penalty.
Bo Allan
10 disposals, 4 marks, 2 rebound-50s
The West Australian missed the first AFL Academy game with a foot injury but had some nice moments. Played the game in defence, which wasn’t an easy spot to be with some of the ball that was coming forward from Footscray. However, Allan battled well in one-on-one contests and made some nice intercepts.
Tobie Travaglia
14 disposals, 3 marks, 1 rebound-50
The Bendigo Pioneers product was called up as an injury replacement player for a second time, covering for Harry O’Farrell who missed with a calf complaint. Like Allan, the 187cm defender did his best against a flood of opposition inside-50s. Travaglia made a costly turnover by foot in the opening quarter which resulted directly in a Footscray goal, but redeemed himself after that as he competed well, applied some good pressure and won some intercepts.
FATHER-SON SHINES TO PUT SMILES ON LIONS’ FACES
Playing primarily onball throughout the day, Ashcroft was clean and provided run and link-up play for his side as he logged 29 disposals, six clearances, four marks and three tackles.
The son of three-time Lions premiership player, Marcus, and the younger brother of current Brisbane young gun Will, he shapes as a top-three draft pick this year.
Ashcroft attended numerous centre bounces alongside Sanders.
The pair had been Sandringham Dragons teammates before Sanders was selected by the Bulldogs at pick six in last year’s draft.
“It’s tough going out to people like Ryley and Baker and those guys,” Ashcroft said.
“It was fun to be out here, but not an easy match-up.
“He (Sanders) is a gun and hopefully he’s back in the ones side next week. But it was lovely to play with him.”
Ashcroft grew up as a Gold Coast Suns supporter, with his dad previously working for the club.
His idol was the Suns’ biggest recruit – two-time Brownlow Medal winner Gary Ablett Jr.
“I’ve modelled my game on Gary Ablett Jr since a young age,” Ashcroft said.
“I’ve been around the club with him. I think he has everything. He always won so much football, kicked goals, was flashy, a great tackler, great mark. He just did it all I think.
“As well as that he’s just such a professional off the field. That’s something I try and do. Same as Will, they’re so professional. That gives them the extra one per cent every day to get where they need to be and where they want to be.”
A co-captain of Sandringham this year, Ashcroft spent six weeks training with the Lions during pre-season and is widely tipped to join his bother at the club through this year’s draft.
However, an official decision around nominating as a father-son will not come until later in the year, as was the case with Will in 2022.
The under-18 national championships will come first, with Ashcroft set to play a key role for Vic Metro when its campaign kicks off on June 9.
“We didn’t get it done last year, which was a bit disappointing, but I feel like we’re very strong,” Ashcroft said.
“You talk to a lot of AFL boys and a lot of boys that have been through the pathway and they say this is one of their favourite years so just enjoy it. You get to play at some high levels with champs coming up, Dragons, school footy even which is a lot of fun with your mates. I’m just taking it all in and trying to enjoy it before, hopefully, I get to play AFL one day.”
Potential No. 1 pick Josh Smillie was also strong for the AFL Academy side with 27 disposals through the midfield, while fellow midfielder Jagga Smith (22 disposals, one goal) and intercept defender Luke Trainor (21 disposals, one goal) were other standouts in the 55-point loss.
OTHERS KEY NOTES
- Carlton’s father-son pair of Ben and Lucas Camporeale were a little less influential than the first AFL Academy game against Coburg. Ben had 16 disposals playing largely across half-back, while Lucas spent time on a wing and recorded seven touches.
- Adelaide father-son prospect Tyler Welsh made the most of limited opportunities forward, with his overhead marking on the lead and a bullet pass inside-50 being highlights of his game. He finished with eight disposals, five marks and one goal.
- Top-three draft prospect Finn O’Sullivan played just his third game of the year, having missed a chunk of football with a fractured thumb. He started onball and won two clearances in the opening quarter, while also applying some great pressure on opponents throughout the day. However, he didn’t have a huge say on proceedings, finishing with 13 disposals and three marks.
- Gun onballer Sam Lalor showed his strength and power at stages in just his second game this year following a delayed start with groin issues. While appearing underdone, he spent time through the midfield and forward and gathered eight disposals (six contested possessions), four marks and four tackles, along with slotting a set shot goal in the second quarter.
- Gold Coast Suns Academy ace Leonardo Lombard had a quieter match than his first outing for the AFL Academy side. However, he had less midfield opportunity, instead spending significant time forward. Lombard had only 11 disposals, but did impress with his pressure at the attacking end and laid four tackles.
- West Australian Basil Hart received a late call-up as an injury replacement player, covering for Joel Cochran who had a knee issue. Hart is a bottom-age player who is not eligible to be drafted until next year and only had a brief run in the last quarter as top-age players were prioritised for game time.
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