London Ashcroft is a unique prospect who could prove to be a sleeper in this year's AFLW Draft. Playing as a tall forward - usually centre half-forward- for the Sydney Swans Academy, Ashcroft managed to get a game at the AFLW Under 18 Championships to go with her two Talent League games. The Manly Warringah Wolves forward booted 14 goals in 11 games at AFL Sydney Women's Premier Division level, including a purple patch of seven goals across the last three games of her season. Though consistency at times was an issue, Ashcroft has some intriguing traits that suggest upside for the future.

Ashcroft has nominated nationally to give herself the best chance of getting onto an AFLW list, and she is a mix of the old school and new theory tall forwards. With good hands and a penetrative kick, Ashcroft is within range anywhere inside the 50 and can wheel around to launch long bomb goals. What sets her aside from a lot of players in her role is her explosive speed and defensive pressure. In the preseason, Ashcroft clocked up a blistering 3.2-second 20m sprint, which was faster than her elite athlete teammate, Holly Cooper. To go with this fact, Ashcroft also laid a massive 11 tackles against Tasmania Devils in Round 7 of the Talent League, and while her Allies performance was a challenge given limited supply she still laid three tackles from her four disposals.

A player who is still working on consistency and a few fundamentals in terms of execution, but from a raw foundational perspective, provides the speed, and power that catch the eye, especially for a taller player.

STRENGTHS:

- Penetrating kick
- Defensive pressure
- Marking
- Explosive speed
- Work rate
- Upside

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Consistency
- Fundamentals
- Versatility