Kaitlyn Ashmore reveals he never considered leaving Brisbane Lions for Victorian club

VICTORIAN AFLW export Kaitlyn Ashmore was never going to turn her back on the Brisbane Lions, revealing she never considered leaving for the “Victorian bubble”.

Brisbane star Kaitlyn Ashmore. Picture: Liam Kidston

KAITLYN Ashmore was never going to turn her back on the Lions.

When the in-demand forward announced she had re-signed with Brisbane during the off-season, it was a major coup for the Queensland club.

Ashmore was one of the standout players of the inaugural AFLW season but hails from Victoria, prompting fears last year that she might not return to the Sunshine State.

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And while she did enjoy a stint with Melbourne University in between AFLW seasons, Ashmore revealed she never really considered leaving Brisbane for the “Victorian bubble”.

Ahead of her return to the field with the Lions, in their season-opening grand final re-match against Adelaide, Ashmore revealed why Brisbane is her future.

“There was no second guessing or anything like that,” she said.

Kaitlyn Ashmore is ready for her second season in Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

“I knew straight away that I wanted to join this club again and hopefully continue the success we had last year. I just love this club and I loved it from the start.

“If there was any doubt in my mind, it was obviously to do with being away from family. But I couldn’t even see myself in another jumper. I hope it stays that way.”

Ashmore said she can see a big future for the Lions in the AFLW, especially given how successful their first season was.

Brisbane shocked the rest of the competition last year when they raced to the top of the table without losing a single game.

That was until their heartbreaking grand final against Adelaide, where they fell short by just six points.

Kaitlyn Ashmore is chased down by Dayna Cox during the 2017 AFLW Grand Final.

Ashmore said most of the players had put their 2017 frustrations behind them but would also not underestimate their rivals in today’s clash in Adelaide.

She also said their first year shows the potential Brisbane have for an exciting future.

While the bookies have them as outsiders – sitting in fifth for the premiership at $7 with Ladbrokes – Ashmore knows they are ready to prove everyone wrong once again in 2018.

“That’s what drives us the most,” she said of the doubters.

“I like to call it the Victorian bubble. It’s nice to get out of that bubble every now and then.

“I expected (the doubt) to be the exact same (this year). When we had won four games last year, they were still doubting us. It was pretty disappointing but it fuels us. We’ll just do our thing.”

Originally published as Kaitlyn Ashmore reveals he never considered leaving Brisbane Lions for Victorian club