Lions star Will Ashcroft was ‘worried about his form’ ahead of Gabba triumph

Lions coach Chris Fagan has described Will Ashcroft’s stellar performance in Brisbane’s win over Geelong as the best of his young career.

The Lions maintained their unbeaten start to their premiership defence with a gritty nine-point win over the Cats in slippery conditions at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Ashcroft finished with a game-high 33 possessions and was particularly influential in the second half, when the Lions kicked seven goals to two to fight back from a 26-point half-time deficit and extend their unbeaten 2025 record to three wins.

“I thought that was probably Will’s best game he’s ever played, and that’s a big call, because he won the Norm Smith Medal last year, but I thought he was outstanding,” Fagan said.

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“He was tough, strong on the clinches, used the ball well, so a wrap for him.”

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Fagan revealed that the 20-year-old midfielder had been concerned about his early-season form.

“He’s been a little bit worried about his form, because he probably has just been putting along by his standards, but (against Geelong), in those sorts of conditions, he showed what a class player is,” he said.

Fagan was also pleased with the “character” of his team after the Lions trailed at one stage in the second quarter by 32 points.

It was the third week in a row opponents had gotten the jump on Brisbane, and each time, the Lions have found a way to win.

“We’re showing a lot of character as a group at the moment. We’re probably not playing our best football, although I did think in the second half (against Geelong), you saw us somewhere near our best.

“I’m glad that we’re able to find it.”

Fagan felt the Lions’ slow start on Saturday night was partially his fault for becoming “preoccupied” with the need for his team to play wet weather football due the abundance of rain in Brisbane in recent days.

“At half-time I said ‘just play dry weather footy boys’, and the uncontested mark game went up, the pressure went up, and we also got better at clearance and contested ball.

“We were getting beaten there in the first half, and I thought their work rate was far superior to ours in the first half of the game, and then I thought it flipped on its head in the second half.”

Brisbane’s main concern coming out of the game was another ankle injury suffered by Kai Lohmann, who was making his return from an ankle problem that kept him out of the previous weekend’s win over West Coast.

“I don’t know whether he’ll be available next week (for Brisbane’s game against Richmond on Saturday at the MCG),” Fagan said.