Brisbane young gun Will Ashcroft has claimed theย Zero Hangerย 2024 Finals MVP to add to his Norm Smith Medal following the weekend's premiership-clinching grand final appearance.
Ashcroft was named best-afield in the Lions' 60-point win over Sydney on Saturday, while the flashy onballer polled the second most votes from our judges - tallying 30 following the double multiplier for the season decider.
Votes of five, four, three and three from our four-person judging panel were enough to see Ashcroft take the lead in our Finals MVP race at the finishing line, going past Swan Isaac Heeney.
Teammate Lachie Neale, who polled a game-high 38 votes from the grand final, fell four votes short of Ashcroft at the cessation of a successful September for the two-time Brownlow Medal winner and his Lions.
Neale polled six votes in his side's elimination final win over Carlton and a further seven votes in Brisbane's preliminary final victory against Geelong, with Ashcroft also polling in that win - amassing 18 votes against the Cats and a further seven against GWS a week prior.
Heeney made the podium with 38 votes from Sydney's two finals this finals series, while Hawks hard-nut Jai Newcombe finished in fourth with 30 votes after polling 20 and 10 in his two finals.
Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko rounds out the top five with 29 votes after polling four votes from the grand final, finishing one vote ahead of teammate Hugh McCluggage, who did not poll against the Swans.
A total of seven Lions players polled from the grand final, with Callum Ah Chee (16 votes), Kai Lohmann (14), Joe Daniher (10) and Brandon Starcevich (8) also picking up votes in the memorable win.
Sydney vs Brisbane
| Mitch Keating | Frank Seal | Aidan Cellini | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Lachie Neale | Lachie Neale | Will Ashcroft | Lachie Neale |
| 4 | Callum Ah Chee | Will Ashcroft | Lachie Neale | Kai Lohmann |
| 3 | Will Ashcroft | Joe Daniher | Callum Ah Chee | Will Ashcroft |
| 2 | Kai Lohmann | Brandon Starcevich | Joe Daniher | Dayne Zorko |
| 1 | Brandon Starcevich | Kai Lohmann | Brandon Starcevich | Callum Ah Chee |
FINAL LEADERBOARDย
| PLAYER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Will Ashcroft | 30 | 55 |
| 2 | Lachie Neale | 38 | 51 |
| 3 | Isaac Heeney | 0 | 38 |
| 4 | Jai Newcombe | 0 | 30 |
| 5 | Dayne Zorko | 4 | 29 |
| 6 | Hugh McCluggage | 0 | 28 |
| 7 | Joe Daniher | 10 | 23 |
| 8 | Chad Warner | 0 | 20 |
| 9 | Callum Ah Chee | 16 | 18 |
| 9 | Max Holmes | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | Jase Burgoyne | 0 | 18 |
