Will Ashcroft is placing collectively some of the full draft years now we have ever seen.
His dominance of the NAB League, Nationwide Championships, and even the VFL has been each bit as spectacular as that of Nick Daicos, Matt Rowell and Sam Walsh earlier than him.
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An aesthetic midfielder with monumental working capability who simply doesn’t play a foul sport, Ashcroft performs within the mould of Walsh, and has stated that he research the previous No. 1 decide’s sport intently.
Walsh made an instantaneous affect on the Blues in his first 12 months and has since risen to turn out to be one of many premier midfielders within the sport. Ashcroft is simply as able to doing the identical.
The Sandringham Dragons product, who’s the son of three-time premiership Brisbane Lion Marcus Ascroft, will most likely slot straight into the Lions facet for spherical one subsequent 12 months after nominating his dad’s former membership as a father-son choice.
Both North Melbourne or West Coast will seemingly bid on Ashcroft with the No. 1 decide on this 12 months’s draft, however the Lions gained’t let anybody else get their fingers on their prized prospect and are sure to match the bid.
Ashcroft is a ready-made AFL participant and leads a robust crop of midfielders on the prime finish of this 12 months’s draft, however there are gems proper all through the pool.
Listed below are seven names to look out for forward of the draft in late November.
Will Ashcroft
- Draft vary: 1-2
- Midfielder
- Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
- 6/5/04
- 182cm/78kg
There has hardly been a sport this season the place Ashcroft hasn’t been the very best participant on the bottom. The ball magnet has all of the instruments to be an elite AFL midfielder; gorgeous composure, sharp abilities, devastating acceleration and a killer intuition. Has averaged a whopping 35 disposals at NAB League stage, 33 in three video games for Vic Metro, and 28 at VFL stage for Brisbane. His 38-disposal effort in opposition to South Australia, which additionally included 10 clearances and a aim, was merely elegant and confirmed his standing as clearly the very best participant on this 12 months’s draft.
George Wardlaw
- Draft vary: 1-4
- Midfielder
- Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
- 18/7/04
- 182cm/82kg
An out of doors probability for the No. 1 decide regardless of being dogged by hamstring points this season. Wardlaw missed the Nationwide Championships with a hamstring grievance, solely returning to the sector on Saturday, however went down with one other hamstring damage within the opening jiffy. A strong midfielder who steps up within the massive moments, Wardlaw is the one his Oakleigh Chargers teammates flip to after they want one thing. Desperately aggressive and as robust as they arrive, Wardlaw additionally has the category to go ahead and hit the scoreboard.
Harry Sheezel
- Draft vary: 2-8
- Ahead/midfielder
- Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
- 13/10/04
- 184cm/77kg
The X-factor participant on the prime of the draft, Sheezel has strings to his bow that others might solely dream of. When he’s across the ball, one thing occurs. An thrilling small ahead with a sick aim sense, Sheezel can also be sturdy above his head and has proved he can go into the midfield and win loads of the ball. The teen will make some established AFL gamers look foolish together with his bag of tips as early as subsequent 12 months. He had a robust carnival that included 4 targets in opposition to the Allies within the opening sport. Don’t be shocked to see golf equipment exterior the primary few choices making an attempt to commerce up to get their fingers on him.
Aaron Cadman
- Draft vary: 5-15
- Key ahead
- Higher Western Victoria Rebels/Vic Nation
- 3/3/04
- 196cm/88kg
May very well be the primary key place participant picked on this 12 months’s crop. Cadman poses a devastating risk to key defenders together with his capacity to harm you in a variety of alternative ways. He burns defenders on the lead and has fingers like a vice however could cause havoc on the bottom with outstanding agility for an enormous man. A method or one other, he finds methods to beat defenders. The left footer slotted seven targets for Vic Nation in three video games and has been constant in entrance of aim within the NAB League.
Oliver Hollands
- Draft vary: 8-20
- Midfielder
- Murray Bushrangers/Vic Nation
- 183cm/71kg
- 16/1/04
The brother of Gold Coast’s Elijah has steadily risen up draft boards across the nation regardless of damage interruptions. The Geelong Grammar scholar who hails from Wodonga stamped himself in a finest on floor efficiency in opposition to Western Australia within the Nationwide Championships. He had 9 touches in a large opening time period and went on to end with a game-high 34. Has performed principally as a midfielder at beneath 18 stage however might slot into nearly any place across the edges of the centre sq. as effectively.
Alwyn Davey Jnr
- Draft vary: 15-25
- Midfielder/ahead
- Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
- 180cm/74kg
- 26/2/04
Essendon has first dibs on the son of former livewire ahead Alwyn Davey, however they’ll seemingly have to match a excessive bid for him. Davey Jnr is a special participant to his dad, slicing his enamel extra as a midfielder than a small ahead. He made his VFL debut for Essendon on Sunday and made an affect regardless of solely accumulating seven disposals. He kicked a aim and had 4 tackles. Will rapidly turn out to be a fan favorite on the Bombers.
Olli Hotton
- Draft vary: 15-30
- Midfielder/ahead
- Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
- 181cm/77kg
- 6/9/04
The present bolter of the draft pool. An ankle damage, COVID and the flu derailed the primary month of Hotton’s season, however he bounced again with some gorgeous type for Haileybury School within the APS. After a 30-disposal, four-goal efficiency in opposition to Geelong School, Hotton was elevated to Vic Metro’s squad, and hasn’t put a foot fallacious since. He performed all three video games and was notably good in opposition to South Australia with 24 disposals and three targets. Recruiters have been impressed together with his leap, velocity, versatility and nous round aim and thru the midfield.
