Brisbane father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft has strengthed his bid to be taken first overall at this year's AFL Draft, while key defender Luke Trainor's stocks continue to grow following another strong outing for the AFL Academy over the weekend.
Ashcroft was named best-afield for the AFL Academy in Saturday's defeat to Footscray at Whitten Oval, with the draft star-littered squad going down by 55 points due to a goalless final term.
The son of triple-premiership Lion Marcus Ashcroft and the brother of second-year Brisbane midfielder Will, Levi could go one better than his older brother and be taken at Pick 1 in November.
The onballer was again a standout for the AFL Academy in their second game of the year, recording a team-high 29 possessions to go with four marks, three tackles, six clearances, four inside 50s and three rebound 50s while going up against ex-Sandringham teammate Ryley Sanders.
The performance followed a brilliant opening performance for the AFL Academy two weeks prior when the side fell short to Coburg at IKON Park, where Ashcroft was the leading ball winner on the field.
His pair of AFL Academy efforts have underpinned the teenager's push to be viewed as a leading Pick 1 chance, with the reigning Dragons best and fairest winner combining with several other top-end draft prospects in what is a fairly open field of favoured talent.
Big-bodied Eastern Ranges onballer Josh Smillie was impressive against the Bulldogs, recording 27 disposals, four inside 50s and four rebound 50s on Saturday to add to his prominent start to 2024.
Having returned from a broken thumb for the game, fellow midfielder Finn O'Sullivan was quieter in his second game of the year, managing the 13 possessions and two clearances.
After being named best on ground in the AFL Academy's opening game against Coburg, defender Luke Trainor was again among the leading names for his side over the weekend.
The Sandringham Dragons talent managed 21 disposals, four marks and eight rebounds 50s to further put his stamp on the top five prospects conversation.
Trainor would even show off his goalkicking after getting forward and converting from range to be one of the AFL Academy's six scorers for the day.
Bendigo key forward Jobe Shanahan was the team's sole multiple goalkicker with two, with Adelaide father-son Tyler Welsh and highly-rated midfielder Jagga Smith also contributing.
Carlton-tied Camporeale twins Ben and Lucas, Gold Coast Academy prospect Leonardo Lombard and Eastern Ranges midfielder Christian Moraes endured quieter performances on the day.
The aforementioned Sanders was among Footscray's best in the win after being dropped from the Western Bulldogs' senior side - collecting 36 disposals, nine clearances, four marks and four inside 50s.
AFL-listed pair Ryan Gardner and Charlie Clarke each booted three goals during the VFL side's bye round performance.
