Following a lower than “ideal” begin to his AFL profession, Lions younger gun Will Ashcroft was relieved to have performed a number one function in Brisbane’s first win of the brand new season.
Father-son decide Ashcroft was near finest on floor within the Lions’ 11-point victory over Melbourne on the Gabba on Friday evening.
The 18-year-old son of Lions nice Marcus Ashcroft completed the match with 31 disposals and 9 clearances, in addition to a objective.
It was far cry from his spherical one efficiency in Brisbane’s embarrassing 54-point loss to Port Adelaide when he was a part of a Lions midfield that was comprehensively outplayed by their Power counterparts.
“Last week wasn’t ideal individually for me and the team,” Ashcroft mentioned.
“All the mids were down on workrate and not as proactive at the stoppage.
“We just needed to get back to the basics – effort, (and) just all the things that we’re good at, and bring that (against Melbourne).
“I think we did that, and (I was) pleased with my individual stuff.”
Lions coach Chris Fagan was something however stunned by Ashcroft’s efficiency.
“That’s how he’s been playing all pre-season,” Fagan mentioned.
“He had a bit of a quieter one last week, along with the other 22, but he was terrific (on Friday night).
“He’s a fine young footballer. He can find the ball and he can set things up for us, so if he can get somewhere near that most weeks, that’d be a terrific result from a first-year player, but there’s a long way in the season to go.”
Ashcroft and Brisbane’s subsequent project is on Thursday evening in opposition to the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
The Lions will attempt for a four-quarter efficiency after Melbourne’s quick end – which included 5 targets to Brisbane’s none – after play resumed on the Gabba following an influence failure that stopped the match for nearly 40 minutes.
“It was obviously not what we wanted to do when we came back out (after the break) … but based off what we did last week, it was just good to come out, play a really good three and a half quarters, and bank the win,” Ashcroft mentioned.
“We’ll just move on really quickly.”
The Lions appeared assured that Jarrod Berry can be match for the battle with the Bulldogs regardless of the midfielder struggling a knock to his shoulder within the dying levels of Friday evening’s match.
Fagan mentioned: “He just got a ‘stinger’ so he came off late – he’s fine.”
Originally revealed as Will Ashcroft ‘pleased’ to have made a serious contribution to the Lions’ first win of the season
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
