‘Clever’ Levi Ashcroft ready to make appearance for Lions in three-team trial

Having recovered from shoulder surgery, Brisbane Lions father-son pick Levi Ashcroft is set to take part in a three-team trial on the Gold Coast.

Father-son pick Levi Ashcroft is set to play a half of football in his unofficial Brisbane Lions debut in Thursday night’s three-team match simulation also involving Collingwood and Gold Coast.

Ashcroft hasn’t played in Brisbane’s two intra-club trials due to his recovery from off-season shoulder surgery.

However, the 18-year-old brother of Lions star Will Ashcroft will play at People First Stadium on Thursday.

The Lions – who have named a 36-man squad for the trial – will play against Collingwood for two quarters and then the Suns for two quarters, with Levi Ashcroft to play in Brisbane’s half against Gold Coast.

Levi Ashcroft has recovered from shoulder surgery and will make his first pre-season appearance for the Brisbane Lions on Thursday night. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“He’ll get on the ground in the second-half,” Lions coach Chris Fagan told SEN Whateley on Wednesday.

“I know he’s chomping at the bit. He wants get in and prove that he’s good enough to be in that first team, and probably is, but he knows that we need to see the evidence of that.

“His training has been really good. You can see he’s a clever player. He’s a lot like Will but he’s also a little different to Will. He’s a little bit more of a forward than probably what Will is.

“We’re really excited about what he can bring to the table. I just really admire his self-belief and his football nous that he has for a boy who’s only 18 years of age.”

Star midfielder Hugh McCluggage will also make his first appearance of the pre-season after recovering from an ankle injury.

From the team that played in last year’s grand final win over the Sydney Swans, Eric Hipwood (groin), Brandon Starcevich (quad), Darcy Fort (hamstring) and Joe Daniher (retired) won’t be involved on Thursday night.

Fagan said off-season recruit and former Gold Coast player Sam Day and draft pick Ty Gallop were both likely to spend time at People First Stadium in the tall forward spot previously occupied by Daniher.

The pair have impressed Fagan in Brisbane intra-club trials.

Lions: Kai Lohmann, Deven Robertson, Jaspa Fletcher, Callum Ah Chee, Josh Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry, Will Ashcroft, Lachie Neale, Levi Ashcroft, Logan Morris, Sam Day, Dayne Zorko, Cameron Rayner, Luke Beecken, Sam Marshall, Zane Zakostelsky, Ty Gallop, Charlie Cameron, Brandon Ryan, Conor McKenna, Will McLachlan, James Tunstill, Harris Andrews, Zac Bailey, Shadeau Brain, Ryan Lester, Reece Torrent, Bruce Reville, Jack Payne, Darragh Joyce, Noah Answerth, Darcy Wilmot, Darcy Craven, Oscar McInerney, Harry Arnold.

Originally published as ‘Clever’ Levi Ashcroft ready to make appearance for Lions in three-team trial