STRENGTHS:

+ Accumulation
+ Competitiveness
+ Consistency
+ Footy IQ
+ Offensive running
+ Scoreboard impact

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Speed
- Temperament

Ashcroft is capable of posting phenomenal numbers across the board, and is particularly effective in attacking phases. He has averaged around 28 disposals over the last two Coates Talent League seasons and went at a rate of 30 per game at the 2024 National Championships, proving just how prolific he can be. Among his best CTL hauls were his 46 disposals against minor premier Geelong Falcons in Round 18.

There were times where Ashcroft received heavy opposition attention, and shaking such tags proved an issue for him early in the year. Still, he managed to break through for 21 touches and two goals against Calder in Round 1, before showing great maturity later in the year to amass another 40 touches and two goals against the Cannons, after having 30 touches against Western in Wildcard Round. He demands respect as a competitor.

Ashcroft is the type of player who seems to know just how good he is, and is not afraid to get stuck into the opposition with niggle and chat. He is developing his leadership skills and clearly demands high standards of his teammates, but can work on how his temperament shows on-field. At times, he can give away needless free kicks and seems frustrated by opposition attention, but again worked through it well late in the year.

A positive product of Ashcroft's competitiveness is his big game acumen. He seems to thrive on the important moments and it more often than not shows in his scoreboard impact. Ashcroft is good for more than a goal per game, able to slot the ball home from an array of angles and distances - no less in clutch moments. His finishing ability is part of the reason why he is not only reliably present, but damaging in the front half.

Take one look at Ashcroft's inside 50 tallies and that factor is verified further. He averaged 6.7 per game in the CTL, where he leant on his running capacity to rack up uncontested possessions around the ground. In particular, he would spread hard forward of the ball to possess it in dangerous launch zones and put the onus on opposition defences with flurries of deep attacking entries.

His ability to connect the play is brilliant, and confirms his high footy IQ. He will not only win the ball cleanly at the coalface, but then compound his impact with relentless outside run, demanding the ball and chaining up several possessions in single passages. He makes quite astute decisions with ball in hand and is hardly ever rushed, though is capable of clearing the ball long and direct when necessary.

Finding glaring improvement areas is difficult for such a well-rounded player as Ashcroft. He was noted for being a touch more versatile - up forward - and having a greater pressure game than elder brother, Will, but seems to have gone away from the latter a little this year. Still, he is clearly a hard worker capable of showcasing his competitive nature in that way. He is not as quick or as silky as other midfielders in the pool either, and has a high ratio of handballs, though is capable of impacting games with his high volume of possessions.