Will Ashcroft joins Dustin Martin and Andrew McLeod in rarified air with stunning feat
Young Lions superstar Will Ashcroft has joined Dustin Martin and Andrew McLeod with his stunning Norm Smith Medal feat in the 2025 grand final, becoming just the third player to win the award back-to-back.
Martin's achievement came in 2019 and 2020 while McLeod's was from 1997 and 1998.
Ashcroft also joins a list of five players to have won multiple Norm Smith Medals with Gary Ayres and Luke Hodge the other two.
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At 21 it's an incredible achievement for the former No.2 pick.
Ashcroft finished with 32 disposals, one goal and 10 clearances in a dominant performance as his Lions thumped Geelong at the MCG on Saturday.
When coming to the microphones, Ashcroft simply put his hands behind his head, opened his eyes wide and had a look of elation.
Will Ashcroft wins a second Norm Smith Medal. Seven Network
He did the obligatory thanks to the sponsors, acknowledgement of Geelong and the crowd before singling out his club.
"From the top to the bottom, everyone puts in so much work," he said.
"To the boys, we just keep turning up, we keep battling through adversity. I can't wait to enjoy tonight, the next week and then we get back to work and go again next year."
Ashcroft finished with 13 votes from the Norm Smith voting panel of five former players, while his captain Harris Andrews was next on six. Zac Bailey was given five, Jaspa Fletcher had three votes while Dayne Zorko and Hugh McCluggage rounded out the voting.
Andrew McLeod, Jack Riewoldt and Adam Simpson were the three judges that gave Aschroft three points.
Luke Hodge gave three to Fletcher. Kate McCarthy awarded her three to Andrews.
