List Mgmt. 2024 Father Son watch MKIII. Operation Ashcroft jnr. Featuring various academy boys.

Remove this Banner Ad

 
Last edited:
Viceregal said:
I remember years ago a friend telling me that back when he had arrived at boarding school from the country he, like everyone else, had to sign up for Union.

On the funny side he didn't even know the positions and they were asking for name and position when you got to the front of the line. So he gave his name and the same position the boy before him said which was forward. You know those really fast skinny winger types whose main desire is to not get tackled? That was where he ended up ... his time in the forward pack was ... interesting.
Click to expand...
Same, I went to a catholic school back in the UK and your choices were union and league or union and soccer with
a bias towards union.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

Funny how it happens now a non-vic team got a few good F/S players.

I’m still not sure what is in it for the club bidding for the F/S, academy kid unless they think the bid won’t be or can’t be matched and that is the player they want. Other than making a team pay a fair price (whatever that is), what’s the point? It also isn’t in anyone’s interest to do it to be petty because all clubs have the same access to F/S and now NGA etc. Also, assuming it’s the bidding teams first pick, it is very much, we didn’t actually want you but out first choice got matched.

If you bid on a F/S or academy prospect that clearly want to go to the club they are associated win and know that the team can’t match the bid due to points then you just end up with an enemy and a really unhappy player that wants to get out ASAP. It’s just a bad way to start a relationship with a draft pick. This doesn’t apply the further you go down to the picks because a lot of kids are just happy for the opportunity, but the elite kids know they are going to play AFL.
 
McIvor said:
Reading the descriptions and they aliken Levi to Lachie Neale (great) and Marshall to Adam Cerra (🤮). Weve got players being compared to Curnow, Jeremy Cameron, Nick Reiwoldt, Dusty, Luke Hodge, Lachie etc., and the best they come up for with Marshall is bloody Adam Cerra. I hopehe's nothing like Cerra and certainly doesnt have the injury issues that have plaugged Cerra all his career.

Some other kid was likened to Joel Freijah and my first thought was who? Seriously I've never heard of Joel Freijah so perhaps Cerra is complimentary.
Click to expand...

Are you Dillion with another name? Everything is always negative with you.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
briztoon said:
Where the hell are 450 Rugby Union schools in QLD?

It’s primarily played in private schools, and there aren’t that many private schools in QLD.

I’ll be genuinely shocked if there are more Rugby Union players in QLD than Rugby League players.
Click to expand...
I thought the same, I consider the sport pretty much dead but they did just poach that young player from the NRL for $5 million, a bit of 'old school' money perhaps.
 
The Flying Belgian said:
If I didn't know better, I'd say they were counting every private school student that's so much as held a rugby ball.
Click to expand...
yep it was a little harder to find Registered Players like the other sports put out and your right, I reckon it's an exaggerated number although the number of schools may be correct there certainly not that many players going onto to be adult players.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

blueiris said:
Simple Count 27 34 42 43 49 60 and 66 is 7 picks
Click to expand...
Anything over the number of list spots (six) goes away, so we don't really have access to 66 once we get to draft day.

Technically until then we've got infinite picks, because we didn't trade away our fifth, sixth, seventh, etc round picks.
 
just for the record again, I totally agree with the existence of academies and think the Lions (and the other 3 northern clubs should have exclusive access to their zones)

I just don't agree with shipping a kid off to Victoria, to be part of CTL and have almost no academy exposure at all, and retaining the exclusive access. I see the point that Clarky is making, but all it does is perpetuate the backwards thinking that footy in QLD is 2nd rate.
 
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/wh...a/news-story/780f2f55e480c1b515d3d853ed1337b0

‘I’m ready’: Top AFL Draft prospect, second coming of legacy Lion opens up in revealing Q&A​

Jack Jovanovski from Fox Sports
October 31st, 2024 12:06 pm
While his inevitable arrival at the Brisbane Lions as a father-son selection has been pending for more than a while, that hasn’t stopped the buzz surrounding prodigious midfield prospect Levi Ashcroft.
The second son of 318-gamer and triple premiership player Marcus, and the younger brother of 2024 Norm Smith Medallist and flag-winner Will, Levi is preparing to make his unique imprint on the AFL once he officially becomes a Lion in late November.
Ashcroft spoke to Foxfooty.com.au’s Ben Waterworth about his upbringing, development into a top draft prospect, and just how tantalising AFL life looks in Brisbane colours alongside his brother.

Ben Waterworth: Looking out at the MCG grandstands, has it kicked in that your life is about to change?
Levi Ashcroft: “I’ve had a lot of special memories here at the MCG. There’s been a lot of footy history that’s happened here, so it’s pretty cool to be at this venue and think about what could be coming in the future for me and for the Brisbane Lions.”
BW: What’s your absolute favourite memory from grand final day 2024?
LA: “Probably being able to get on the ground with Will after the game. Actually, I’ll rephrase. Probably his goal was really good in the game, but then after the game, was being able to be on the ground with him was after on such a special day after such a great performance by not only him but the whole team. It was such a special moment for not only me and Will but for our family to all be there and witness what was such a great day.”
BW: Technically, should you have been on the ground?

LA: “Well, no. You’re only allowed one family member per player on the ground after the game, but some of the Brisbane Lions guys and coaching staff said that it should be OK ... so I think they sort of knew that I might be coming on, potentially, so I think it was OK in the end. The security guard was kind enough to let me on.”
BW: Being in the rooms after a premiership, what was that experience like?
LA: “Not many people have been able to experience it. It’s very special. All those people in there, a lot of rich history with the Brisbane Lions, a lot of past players were in there — people that my dad used to play with when he played in those three premierships, so really special to be able to be in there with all those people. You wouldn’t get a lot of those people in there at the same time at any time, so to be able to be in there with all those special people and people that are connected to the club, it was surreal for all of us to be able to be in there.”
BW: Did your dad keep his emotions in check?
LA: “He did, he was a little bit emotional in the end, he didn’t really let it out, but when he saw Will after the game on the ground I could see a little bit of emotion starting to kick in. He was just so proud, and again, it was a special moment for him to be able to be on the ground that he won his first premiership on — that he won three, back to back to back — so for Will to be able to do it after he’s done it and the next premiership after he won (in 2003) was one that one of his sons played in. So it was very special for us.”
BW: Was there a part of you that almost felt part of this premiership?

LA: “There was a part of me that did, but I feel like I wasn’t a part of it. I want to be in my own premiership team one day, hopefully with some of those boys that played in this year’s. So, in a way, yes you do, but it’d be a bit different hopefully being in there one day, hopefully it’s next year that we could do it and hopefully I’m in that team. But it did feel very special for me, because a lot of those boys I’ve trained with in pre-season and have a relationship — I texted a few of those guys this year and wished them luck for a few of the games and stuff like that. To be able to see them win it and some of my really close mates from that team was special for me as well.”
BW: Is that why you didn’t intentionally touch the premiership cup in the aftermath?
LA: “I think I touched it, but I didn’t want to grab it because I want to hopefully grab my own at some stage.”
BW: If someone hadn’t seen you play before, how would you describe yourself as a player to them?
LA: “One word that comes to mind is competitive. I want to win. That comes down to what it is in sport and a team sport, winning is the main goal, and I feel like I’ve done that in the past three years I’ve been in junior footy. Competitive, always trying to do everything I can for my teammates and for the coaches that I really love playing for and playing with.”
BW: Does that competitiveness derive from the backyard?

LA: “Definitely. From a young age, my younger sister and Will used to play every single sport that you could think of in the backyard — always testing each other and putting each other to extreme lengths — and that’s definitely held us in great stead for playing professional sport now.”
BW: What other sports were played in the backyard?
LA: “Definitely some cricket, golf, swimming in the pool, lot of basketball, NFL, all that stuff. Anything you could think of, we probably played it.”
BW: Tell us about your love for the National Football League.
LA: “We love it. With some of those sports, it’s really good to get away from just being about footy all the time. To be able to get away and watch some of that and be intrigued in their game that they play overseas, it’s a fascinating game to watch and to be involved in, and I’m sure Will and I have brought some of the things that we’ve learnt from that game, tactical things and things that they do, into how we play our footy. I love it because it’s so different to the way we play our game here. The tactical things, the breaks in the game, offence, defence, special teams, all that sort of stuff that comes into play — it’s a different sport that we can include in the way that we do our things in our life and in our sport.”
BW: Is there one specific gridiron tactic that you can think of that you might be able to translate into footy or into your game in some capacity?

LA: “There’s a lot of patience in NFL, a lot of waiting to see what unfolds, especially as a quarterback, you’ve got to be knowing what you’re looking at and knowing what play is coming or knowing which defender is going to be where, so the patience and the composure to be able to deliver the ball on time or run the right route, things like that. I feel like composure and patience are two things that I feel like we could really try and include in the way we try to play footy.”
BW: A player other than your brother that you try and model your game on?
LA: “I try and model my game like Lachie Neale, he’s another guy I try and stay connected with, or I did try and stay connected with during this year. He’s been such a role model for me, not only on the field but off the field, when I was around the club I learnt so much off him. Same with Josh Dunkley. Those boys are just so unselfish and always so team-orientated to the cause of trying to win a premiership, which they did this year. It shows what they do on the field, but off the field they do so much for the club and their families to be able to be successful on the field.”
BW: The first of your three consecutive Coates Talent League premierships with the Sandringham Dragons came alongside the likes of Harry Sheezel, Ryley Sanders and Cam Mackenzie — and at just 15 years of age. When you look back on that flag, do you think ‘what the heck just happened’?
LA: “Yeah, it was a crazy team, if you look back at it now. Some of those boys are dominating (at) AFL level, so to be able to play with them at under-18s level when I was only 15 was, again, an incredible moment for me in my footy career. People like, as you said, Harry Sheezel and Ryley Sanders and those guys who are doing so well at AFL level and are so professional, so team-orientated. To be able to play alongside them at such a young age was special for me, and it developed my game and my leadership and me as a person to be able to be where I am now. That also held me in great stead for being a leader in my under-18 year, learning off them, learning off Will and those guys to be able to help others that might’ve been my age now.”
BW: Expand on how you’ve tried to work on your leadership.

LA: “I feel like I’ve always been a very good leader on the field, and through action and that sort of stuff, but I’ve developed with people like Rob Harding, who’s the coach at Sandy Dragons, and Wayne Cripps in my first year, those guys have helped me implement my knowledge and the things that I have from the game and being able to see the game the way I see it and being able to help others see that and try and show them the way that I can help them develop their games and see the game better. If I helped a few of those younger boys in little ways with a one-minute conversation or during the game going up to them and helping them at some stage, I’d be very proud of that, and hopefully they could bring that to the next people that they might be helping at a younger age when they’re getting older in the program.”
BW: Who have been some of the bigger influences in your footy journey so far?
LA: “Definitely Will and dad have ben the two main ones. Obviously dad did so well in his career and he knows so much with the game. I’ve developed so many things of what he’s told me over my journey. And Will, again, professional, knows so much about the game. I implement all those things that they have taught me over the 10-year journey I’ve been playing football into every game that I play or every training session that I do to be able to better myself.”
BW: Born three years after your dad’s final premiership, how much have you intentionally gone and learnt about what he achieved?
LA: “I’m so proud of what he did. He is a bit of an unsung hero in that team with some of those players that were All-Australians, Brownlow Medallists, all that sort of stuff. I also go back to when he was the main midfielder there for a while with the Bears and the Lions at the start of their tenure as the Brisbane Lions. As I say, unsung hero in those premiership years, but those years before he helped develop the club and the Bears to bring them up into finals contention ... he helped do that with his play and his leadership and that sort of stuff, so it’s pretty cool to be able to go back and see what he did as a player, because I didn’t get to see any of it live. To be able to look back at what he did was special.”
BW: Has he given you tips on how to handle a tag?

LA: “Yeah, definitely. He’s told me a few stories back in the old days of when he used to be tagged, and he actually did a few tagging roles when he was younger, so he learnt what he was being told from when was tagging to when he started to get tagged when he got older. There were a few different things that they used to do to him when he was getting tagged — things like stepping on his feet, pinching and all that sort of stuff that they don’t do now. So I used to look back and go wow, it’s not easy to play footy when people are doing that to you, so he definitely gave me plenty of things to do, like keeping on the move at stoppage, always running around trying to make the tagger work with you, because usually some of the taggers you’re playing on don’t have the running capacity you might have. So, just being able to stay on the move as much as you can, and that’s what you get free kicks from.”
BW: How much did you appreciate being outside the footy bubble while you were still living in Queensland?
LA: “It was a bit different, I was only in primary school at that stage, so I wasn’t touted as a high pick or a talent as of yet. So I just wanted to keep my head down and work in those first few years that I came to Victoria. I always sort of had that work ethic to be an AFL player from such a young age. It was a dream for such a long time when I was living in Queensland, so when I came to Melbourne it was the big bubble. So much football, so many more things that you could be doing here than there was in Queensland. So it was a bit of a different period of my life where I was like ‘wow, this is getting serious now, you’ve got to start taking advantage of what you have here’.”
BW: Will told me two years ago: “I always say Levi’s done everything I’ve done up until the 16th year, so he’s well on his way — if he continues to build on his professionalism, trains hard and keeps growing as a player and person, he’ll definitely have a very long, successful AFL career.” Do you believe that you’ve been able to build on that professionalism and that training standard in these past two years?
LA: “Yeah, I definitely do, and he’s been a driver of that for me. He’s my biggest supporter, but someone that is really hard on me and really wants to push me to be the best I can, because he knows what I can do — he believes in me as a person and a player. I’ve been trying to develop those things as much as I can, and I feel like I’ve definitely taken a few steps in the right direction.”
BW: What’s it been like the past couple of years living in a different state to Will?

LA: “Tough is a word that comes to mind, but eye-opening for both of us to be able to work through my last few years of school and his past few years of being an AFL player, so becoming young men and being able to be more independent ourselves. Will’s been away from our parents and our family up there, and I definitely think he’s grown as a person to help him become a better player at the Brisbane Lions and a better teammate, being away from home.”
BW: What did you learn from what Will went through in his ACL rehabilitation?
LA: “Lots of things. It wasn’t only tough on him but it was tough on the family and me. It was a very tough period for our family and for Will, because most of his life at the moment is football, so when he was kept away from that and being on the field, it was really tough for him, and seeing the Lions go so well, it was really hard — he really wanted to be a part of that team. So, just resilience and perseverance to be able to work through and continue to be a great teammate, even when you’re not playing on the field.”
BW: Are you going to live with Will when you move to Queensland?
LA: “Yes, I think so. We’re still working out a few things with who might be getting drafted with me to the Lions, a few things that the Lions do — I know one of the docs has a little outhouse at his house that some of the draftees usually live in for the first couple of months or first few weeks of pre-season, so we’re still working out with the club what’s going to be going on.”
BW: Brisbane Academy prospect Sam Marshall is expected to head north with you. Tell us about Sam and what he will bring to the Brisbane Lions.

LA: “Sam played so well this year at the end of the year, very chuffed for him for what he’s been able to do ... I was really proud of what he did in the grand final, because he sort of flew under the radar a little bit, quiet kid, but he did so well. A great runner, that’s what comes to mind. I remember last year in the pre-season, he was doing pre-season with us at the Lions as well, and he was up the front in the running before and after trainings with Hugh McCluggage and Harry Sharp and those guys, and I was thinking ‘wow, he’s going to be a star if he can continue to do that’. I’m looking forward to hopefully joining him at the Lions next year.”
BW: How familiar are you with the Lions football program and game plan? Do you feel like you’re ready to hit the ground running?
LA: “Yeah, definitely. I had the last two pre-seasons at the Lions, which was a bit of a head start for me, and Sam did the same. To be able to be involved with those players and those coaches and learn the system even when you’re not there yet was a real bonus for me, and as you said, hopefully hit the ground running knowing exactly what I’m doing coming into pre-season, hopefully impress the coaches and staff with knowledge that I might have of the game plan and how they want to play, so hopefully I can do that next year.”
BW: Have you thought about playing in the same midfield brigade as Will, Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley?

LA: “Yeah, it’s pretty special to be able to line up with some of those All-Australians and premiership players and Brownlow Medallists, as Lachie Neale is. It’d be really surreal for me to be able to line up with them and pull on the Brisbane Lions guernsey alongside some of those guys. I did it in pre-season — you’re lining up against those guys and you think ‘how am I here right now?’ So to do that on the Gabba or the MCG would be a crazy moment for me.”

BW: Are you aiming to play in Round 1 next year?
LA: “Definitely. That’s definitely going to be a goal of mine, and hopefully I can impress the players and the coaches as early as I can and just put my head down and earn the respect of those guys as soon as I can. If that’s Round 1 it’s Round 1, and if it’s down the track, that’s what it is. Hopefully I can just put my best foot forward and give 100 per cent to everything I’m doing at the Brisbane Lions.”
BW: How ready are you physically and mentally to be a full-time professional AFL footballer?

LA: “I think I’m as ready as I can be. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity to be at an AFL club for such a long time and dreaming of the prospect of playing or an AFL team. I feel like I’m very ready to be able to step out there and put my best foot forward for the Brisbane Lions.”
 
Last edited:
Miller1971 said:
just for the record again, I totally agree with the existence of academies and think the Lions (and the other 3 northern clubs should have exclusive access to their zones)

I just don't agree with shipping a kid off to Victoria, to be part of CTL and have almost no academy exposure at all, and retaining the exclusive access. I see the point that Clarky is making, but all it does is perpetuate the backwards thinking that footy in QLD is 2nd rate.
Click to expand...
Its not second rate in Qld, it's probably 5th rate or ever 6th rate. The only one watching a local match is the bloke reluctantly walking his girlfriend's dog that stops as the dog does its business and he is glad to get a break from the mutt.

The academies must create inspiration for kids to choose AFL. That same kid can get a soccer scholarship to Manchester United, or a basketball or gridiron kicker scholarship to the USA, the kid can get a sports scholarship to a private school in Brisbane with a successful Union program run in conjunction with a pathway to the Wallabies or go to a Private School already signed and supported by any of the NRL teams well before they are 16. The Private schools in Brisbane already offer scholarships to New Zealanders and kids from all across the Pacific Islands, not only Qld kids.

The AFL trying to keep kids based in Queensland is insanity, that is a recipe for failure against other sports. I played QAFL, I have mates that made All Australian teams and went South on training contracts, as they were back then, around the time Jason Dunstal finally broke through. Victoria has better underage and professional school programs for, AFL is the only sport in Victoria and it's inspirational to go there. AFL will never be the top sport in Qld, not even close the NRL just expanded with Redcliffe and will add New Guinea with $600 million from the Federal Government to do it.

Rugby League have been trying to crack Victoria market with the Storm since 1997 and still, any local Melbourne kid would start out in their affiliate at Kawana on the Sunshine Coast in Qld where the Storm reserve grade is located. By the way the Sunshine Coast Lightening netball franchise, owned by the Melbourne Storm is also located up here.

It is what it is - Academies are just another word for funnels. Funnels to get talented kids into one sport over another. Kids whom make it up these funnels and onto a national stage create inspiration for others to follow, but remember AFL is a minor sport in Qld where the dominate sports have world wide competitions, offer kids opportunities to travel the world, play in the Olympics and earn more money than all the players put together in any AFL club.
 
Miller1971 said:
just for the record again, I totally agree with the existence of academies and think the Lions (and the other 3 northern clubs should have exclusive access to their zones)

I just don't agree with shipping a kid off to Victoria, to be part of CTL and have almost no academy exposure at all, and retaining the exclusive access. I see the point that Clarky is making, but all it does is perpetuate the backwards thinking that footy in QLD is 2nd rate.
Click to expand...
Reasonable points. I'd still suggest that if theyre choosing between League and AFL and the Broncos say "we can sign you straight in, you can stay 10 mins from your family", and the Lions say "you'd go into the draft and have a 90% chance of being forced to live elsewhere", we'd see a drop in participation. Agree with your points about the lions academy needing a lot of work too.

What do you think about the NGAs? In my opinion, they are a far bigger rort.

They were raised as a way to increase indigenous participation, despite Indigenous participation being at twice the population proportion.

Kako this year. Likely top 10 pick. Born in Melbourne. Raised in Melbourne. Grew up In Melbourne playing AFL. But his parents were born overseas so Essendon get priority access. Ugle-Hagan obviously. Hell, Andy McGrath went pick 1. A few years later he'd have qualified as NGA. I just dont get it.
 
noobermensch said:
Well aware that I'm tempting fate by posting the following response here but here goes anyway.

You think that a vic based AFL club, all of which have zero direct connection to private schools, would somehow persuade those schools (bribe them?) to offer scholarships to Brisbane based kids in order for those kids to be available in the open pool so they might have a slim chance of having a draft pick that lands close enough that they might pick them?

This is some deep state #VICBIAS conspiracy stuff right here.
Click to expand...

Suggesting something is a conspiracy is not an argument against it happening...conspiracies literally occur all the time...the AFL has just implemented measures to ensure clubs don't conspire to not bid on F/S and NGA players in the form of side deals

And what is a "direct connection" exactly? A formal, written and published agreement to conspire? lol

if you think club recruiters or scouts don't have relationships at big schools, then you're being naive
 
spotthedog1 said:
Reasonable points. I'd still suggest that if theyre choosing between League and AFL and the Broncos say "we can sign you straight in, you can stay 10 mins from your family", and the Lions say "you'd go into the draft and have a 90% chance of being forced to live elsewhere", we'd see a drop in participation. Agree with your points about the lions academy needing a lot of work too.

What do you think about the NGAs? In my opinion, they are a far bigger rort.

They were raised as a way to increase indigenous participation, despite Indigenous participation being at twice the population proportion.

Kako this year. Likely top 10 pick. Born in Melbourne. Raised in Melbourne. Grew up In Melbourne playing AFL. But his parents were born overseas so Essendon get priority access. Ugle-Hagan obviously. Hell, Andy McGrath went pick 1. A few years later he'd have qualified as NGA. I just dont get it.
Click to expand...
I get what NGA's are meant to be. If they get some young African kids off the streets and into the game in Melbourne - great. If they reach some Middle Eastern kids in West Sydney like Rugby League has - fantastic. Importantly if an NGA can bring an Aboriginal kid from some far remote community where his life was tough, put him in a boarding school in Melbourne where he gets a better education and also plays AFL then that is a really good thing.

Even better if the NGA is located in Africa and we get the game played there, maybe even better if the NGA is in china and we get players from there. I played golf with a guy last month and his claim was, "I played AFL representing 24 million people" wow i said did you make an all Australian team? Nope, turns out he was an expat in Shanghai and made their representative team.

I think NGA's are a great Idea, maybe now they have just become about the Clubs involved watching a lot of junior footy and looking for talented players whom parents don't have an Australian background and signing them in at the hope they develop.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

List Mgmt. 2024 Father Son watch MKIII. Operation Ashcroft jnr. Featuring various academy boys.

Similar threads

MSB ROYS
  • Poll
2024 GF - how many times have you watched?
2 3 4
Replies
78
Views
3K
Nunez
Nunez
AllHart
2024 Grand Final Parade - my home video from start to finish featuring all participants - filmed from the footbridge to the MCG
Replies
0
Views
218
AllHart
AllHart
DERRINALPHIL
Watch This Space
Replies
2
Views
323
Nunez
Nunez
Big Sauce 21
Brownlow 2024 Brownlow Medal
2 3 4
Replies
86
Views
3K
Grasshopper17
G
McIvor
Unofficial Preview Lions 2024 B&F Dicussion
3 4 5 6 7
Replies
156
Views
6K
McIvor
McIvor
ZoBlitz
  • Sticky
News 2024 Trade News Compendium
2
Replies
45
Views
3K
McIvor
McIvor
vic_LION
Toast All Australian Lions 2024
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
147
Views
5K
McIvor
McIvor

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top