SANDRINGHAM Dragons midfielder Will Ashcroft is the Rookie Me Central NAB League Boys Player of the Week for Round 2. After a steady debut last week, the Dragons skipper was back to his ominous best on Saturday in a 43-point win over the Calder Cannons. He racked up a round-high 38 disposals, four marks, four tackles, and seven inside 50s – collecting 17 more touches than his next-best teammate.

The Brisbane Lions father-son candidate has already attracted plenty of eyes having put his name in lights as a pick one fancy with scintillating bottom-age form. He is still yet to make a decision on his club-tied candidacy, but will certainly be in demand should the open draft come calling. This week, he beat out fellow top pick contender Elijah Tsatas in our poll, after the Oakleigh Chargers gun notched 36 disposals of his own.

Lauded for his elite decision making, balance and natural knack for finding the ball, Ashcroft also has the off-field maturity to boot. Having completed his high school studies in 2021, the 17-year-old is available full-time to Sandringham and is impressing more than just Dragons talent operations lead Mark Wheeler, according to the man himself.

“Everyone is probably seeing Will now and getting a little bit of an insight into how professional he is,” Wheeler said. “He’s definitely built himself to be an AFL player already, so he’s going to live the life of an AFL player this year and his professionalism is through the roof, but he’s a very good player at the same time.”

Now laying claim to a 1-1 record after two rounds, Ashcroft will lead his Dragons into a Round 3 clash against the Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy on Friday afternoon. The matchup looms as Sandringham’s second home game of the season, but its first at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

2022 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL NAB LEAGUE BOYS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1: Jai Culley (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 2: WILL ASHCROFT (Sandringham Dragons)