Brisbane Lions pull bizarre Rising Star Award article from website
The Lions claimed Ashcroft's demotion by bookmakers to third — behind Fremantle's Murphy Reid and Adelaide's Dan Curtin — was a 'stinging retort'.
The piece also claimed Ashcroft had an unfair disadvantage because there were no Queensland-based voters on the selection panel, despite Greg Swann — who was Brisbane's chief executive until last month — sitting on the committee.
The article, posted via the club's website on Thursday, even took a swipe at Fremantle's first-year gun, and now second-favourite for the award, Murphy Reid, ahead of the sides' meeting on Friday night.
The article suggested that this was because it's 'part' of an 'annual problem that confronts the northern states' with there being 'next to no media support in Queensland for the Lions star'.
'While the South Australian media are all over Curtin and the West Australian media likewise for Reid,' the Lions claimed.
'It doesn't help, either, that Queensland is the only state not represented on a judging panel which is headed by AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and now includes new football boss Greg Swann, in-house football Kevin Sheehan and Laura Kane, plus Nathan Buckley, Eddie Betts and Abbey Holmes, plus Perth-based Glen Jakovich and Matthew Pavlich, Adelaide-based Kane Cornes, and Sydney-based Jude Bolton.'
The ridiculous claims were slammed by footy fans on social media.
'Our genetically gifted free top five draft pick that we got the year after winning the flag is being unfairly discriminated against,' an account named Shinzo Abe Lincoln wrote.
Some called the story 'the worst they have ever read'.
'This is hilarious. Can't blame them for being nervous - means more when the players are free,' Karl Uwe Schmid said.
Other fans dredged up the past, pointing out the Lions have had the most Rising Star Award winners with four, including Lewis Taylor over Marcus Bontempelli in 2014.
'Lewis Taylor literally beat the Bont. This is the biggest womp womp,' Harry Grant said.
Ashcroft and his brother Will were both father-son selections by the Lions. He has produced a fine debut campaign with the reigning premiers, averaging 20 disposals, two clearances and 4.6 marks.
However, his performances have been overshadowed by the rise of Reid at the Dockers and West Australian talent Dan Curtin at Adelaide.
The current odds have Ashcroft at $5, behind favourite Curtin at $2, and Reid at $3.
The story then took aim at Reid for only having kicked multiple goals twice this season.
Reid has averaged 14 possessions, 5.3 contested possessions and 5.4 score involvements in 21 games, and has kicked 22 goals.
He also joined illustrious company alongside Cyril Rioli and Trent Cotchin as the only 18-year-olds to have six score assists in a game, and only Rioli and Errol Gulden had more across their first 10 games.
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