In a fiery opening pre-season showdown, the 22-year-old Will Ashcroft was understandably the centre of attention. Players from their opponents the Gold Coast Suns targeted his once-hallowed number 23 with explicit taunts aimed at him. The sledging went deep, most brutally when they said Ashcroft was the incorrect Norm Smith medallist from last year’s grand final. This ruthless personal attack took an emotional toll on the budding young footballer’s psyche. As a father-son product of the Brisbane Lions, it’s safe to say that Ashcroft is no stranger to the cutthroat nature of the sport. This specific meeting has stoked the decades-old rivalry even further.
As the Gold Coast players’ jibes made clear, there was a deep-seated pattern of sledging. This tension has bubbled between Ashcroft and the Suns for the last few seasons. In a controversial moment during an interview last week, former AFL player Kane Cornes asked Ashcroft if he took the sledging to heart. Ashcroft affirmed, validating his sentiments, to which he said that he would not want to have these kinds of statements accepted without challenge.
“Absolutely, I’m not going to cop that on the chin.” – Will Ashcroft
As a former pro himself, Will Ashcroft is no stranger to the unique demands of a professional football career. Marcus Ashcroft leaves a mighty legacy. His dad ran the Suns’ football operations for 10 years, setting the bar for Carter front and center—on and off the field. This family relationship only heightens the competition. As Will creates his own legacy within the sport, he must ultimately contend with the shadow of his father’s legacy.
Will’s little brother, Levi Ashcroft, was the subject of immediate ribbing from the Suns players on the field that match. …he commanded much of their attention. The changing relationship between the two brothers has added a riveting chapter to both Joey and Nick’s journeys through the football professional ranks. As they strive to make their mark in the AFL, they face unique challenges and scrutiny, particularly from rival teams.
As he looked back on it all, Will told us how difficult it was to stay calm in the face of the baiting. He recognized that returning fire in fury would only harm his game and mentality.
“There’s no point in me coming out hot-headed and trying to do things, that’s not going to work.” – Will Ashcroft
This season, as he takes the field with all eyes on him, Ashcroft hopes he can take any anger and turn it into production. For now, his attention is still on improving as a player, and balancing all the distractions that life in the national spotlight entails. The sledging from Gold Coast players might have been a threat, but it’ll now provide motivation.
The sledging saga history of Ashcroft and the Suns is just another example of a colourful culture in Australian rules football. Unlike a lot of other sports where verbal battles just add to the rivalry storyline. These types of incidents can raise the competitive fires and create compelling theater on the pitch as players try to play mind games.
As the season unfolds, fans will be looking more than ever. It will be interesting to see how Will Ashcroft approaches this new, perhaps most interesting, chapter in his young career. He brings with him a deep pedigree from days gone by. With his tremendous talent, he’s about to blow the roof off the game.
