AFL Draft 2024: Levi Ashcroft on motivation, big moments and the prospect of being a No. 1 pick
Levi Ashcroft refused to touch Brisbane’s premiership cup while posing for photos with his older brother Will. He explains why — and declares his desire to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.
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Levi Ashcroft was happy to pose for photos and celebrate the success of his “best mate” after this year’s AFL Grand Final.
Older brother Will not only collected a premiership medal with the Brisbane Lions but also won the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground.
Levi watched the game alongside parents Marcus and Rebecca in the MCG stands, before the family got the opportunity to join Will in the winning rooms — and on the ground — post-game.
“That’s what you want to be doing — holding up that premiership cup one day,” Levi said.
“I had a photo with Will and the premiership cup but I didn’t want to touch it or grab it because I wanted to get one myself one day. That’s why I’m doing all the work behind the scenes now and for the rest of the pre-season, to try and get to that moment.”
It’s a glimpse into the mindset and inner drive of Levi, who is set to join his older brother as a father-son selection for the Lions in November’s national draft.
This is a young man who turns 18 in December but has never touched alcohol and has no intention of getting on the birthday beers.
“I’m not really interested in that sort of stuff and the party life,” Levi said.
“I’d rather focus on spending time with my family … and being professional.”
At the start of the year, Levi wrote down a list of goals.
Some items atop of that list included winning his own premiership with the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League, helping Vic Metro to victory in the under-18 national championships and winning a school football title with Brighton Grammar in the APS competition.
By season’s end, he had ticked off all three.
“It was a successful year for myself and for the teams, which was pretty cool,” Levi said.
‘PROVEN WINNER’
Sandringham Dragons coach Rob Harding describes Levi as a “big moments” player and a “proven winner”.
In the Dragons’ Grand Final triumph in September, Levi finished as the top-ranked player on the ground with 183 SuperCoach points.
His day at Ikon Park included 28 disposals, eight marks, seven inside-50s and three classy goals.
“I love the big moments,” Levi said.
“If you’re a footballer and don’t want to be in those big moments, then I don’t really know why you’d be playing because that’s why I love to play.
“Look at what Will did in his finals series. I’ve learned so much from what he does in those big moments. It’s just about being able to come back to all the work you’ve done to set yourself up to perform well in those moments and having the confidence to know that you’ve got what it takes.”
Levi became the first player to win three premierships in the Coates Talent League, having also saluted with the Dragons in 2022 and 2023.
The first of the three-peat came alongside Will, when Levi was still 15.
“I really, really wanted to get that third one,” Levi said.
“I knew no one had ever done that as an individual and it had been a while since there had been a three-peat for a team. So I really set myself at the start of the year to go for that.”
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
Teammates — including fellow first-round draft prospect Luke Trainor — describe Levi as “a great leader”.
Harding — a former Essendon assistant coach — says his best trait is that he is “incredibly unselfish”.
“The danger, particularly in national championships games and under-18 football, is that everyone plays for themselves a little bit,” Harding said.
“Levi’s the complete opposite. He makes everyone around him better.”
Levi served as a co-captain of the Dragons this year on the back of spending a summer with two of the AFL’s finest skippers.
He trained with the Lions for six weeks last pre-season, under the guidance of co-captains Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale.
“For me to learn off some of those guys was amazing,” he said.
“They’re now a premiership team and two premiership captains.
“I learnt so much from what they do, not only for themselves and their game, but what they do for everyone else. They’re always seeking team first.
“I wasn’t even at the club yet and they were trying to help me out, giving me things to work on, helping me with my leadership or my game or what I can do to better myself off the field. They’re always thinking about other people.”
Levi took a similar approach with his own game this year, despite being one of the youngest players in all the teams that he played for.
“I just want to be able to help them (teammates) with the knowledge that I have and to be able to lead them on the field as well with actions,” he said.
ABLETT-ESQUE
Levi spent the first 12 years of his life living in Queensland.
His father — three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Marcus — served as an assistant coach and then football manager for the Gold Coast Suns between 2008 and 2017.
The Suns’ biggest marquee signing for their inaugural AFL season in 2011 was Gary Ablett Jr, who soon became a favourite for a young Levi.
“He was my idol when I was younger,” Levi said of Ablett.
“I was always around him and his excellence. I’ve modelled my game off him since I was a little boy running around at the Suns.
“He just did it all.”
Much like Ablett, Levi can also ‘do it all’.
Along with the leadership traits, he is a dynamic ball-winner through the midfield who has clean hands, high footy IQ, is a strong mark and can push forward and kick classy goals from all angles.
While Levi primarily played as a midfielder this year, he has also shown great ability across half-forward and averaged 9.3 score involvements and 1.3 goals from nine matches for the Dragons.
Given the Lions’ incredible onball strength — with players like Ashcroft, Neale, Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage — half-forward is where Levi might have to start his AFL career.
“It’s going to be tough going to play in the midfield, but I know I can start at half forward and play a few different positions,” he said.
“Wherever they need me, I’m happy to play. But I’d love to be playing in that midfield alongside some of those great players.
“I’m always up for a challenge.”
MAKE ME NO. 1
Greater Western Sydney chose not to bid on Will Ashcroft with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 national draft.
The Giants instead selected key forward Aaron Cadman outright, leaving North Melbourne to bid on Will at No.2.
Brisbane expects a bid to come on Levi within the first five selections in this year’s draft, but whether one comes from Richmond at No. 1 remains to be seen.
“I’d love to be the No. 1 pick,” Levi said.
“I’m sure most people want to be the best player in the draft or to be called out at No.1. But in the circumstances, there’s been a few instances over the years where some of the best players haven’t been called out at No. 1 because they’re father-sons or Academy players. So that’s not the end of the world for me. I’m just looking forward to getting to Brisbane and getting started.”
Levi missed the draft combine — where he planned to chat with Tigers recruiters — due to post-season shoulder surgery.
But there will be conversations held with Richmond in lead-up to the draft, as the club weighs up whether to make a bid.
As for the shoulder, Levi is back on the exercise bike and is due to resume running in coming weeks.
“I won’t be missing any footy,” Levi said.
“I’ll be back for next year, which is what really matters in the end.”
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