Brisbane Lions great Simon Black has not only backed Will Ashcroft to spearhead the premiers back into flag contention, but become the face of the club’s midfield once Lachie Neale departs.
Following Saturday’s qualifying final capitulation against the Swans, every game could now be Neale’s last in a Lions’ guernsey, as the two-time Brownlow Medal winner appears destined to link up with Collingwood from 2027.
The 33-year-old’s eight seasons in Queensland have coincided with Brisbane’s run of finals campaigns, with the veteran midfielder casting aside chatter about his personal life following the early year breakdown of his marriage to average 30 disposals a game heading into September.
By his side, Ashcroft has cemented himself as one of the AFL’s brightest young stars, with the 22-year-old heading into the sudden death series on high, with his run of nine-straight games managing 30 or more touches only ending in the final round of the regular season.
Many believed Ashcroft was an unlucky exclusion from the All-Australian side, having been named in the initial 46-man squad only to miss the final 23.
But against the Swans, he and Neale were kept quiet, combining for 39 disposals.
However, Black, speaking as the AFL Premiership Cup Tour arrived at Brisbane’s Everton Park Wolves – the AFL Queensland Community Club of the Year – was adamant Ashcroft would not be kept down for long, was destined to break the shackles against the Crows on Saturday night.
While the Lions were facing a reality of filling Neale’s void from next year – and possibly of Zac Bailey – he believed the two-time Norm Smith Medal winner had proved he was ready to lead the midfield into the future.
“He’s probably started to get a bit more opposition pressure with tagging and things, but he has a great work rate, and when you’ve got a great work rate you’ll get involved in the game if you react really quickly,” Black said.
“Will just keeps elevating his game, he was unlucky not to be an All-Australian … but his ability to be so creative, he uses the ball so well, and he’s really jumped up. Lachie Neale was obviously the standout for so many years, and he’s really matching Lach most weeks now.
“His ability to get boot to ball so quickly around the stoppages, to ask me what I love about him, I love his ability to get the ball out of congested areas and his decision-making, and his ability to get boot to ball with his creativity is really elite.”
Brisbane will have to chart a similar path to the one they walked last year en route to the premiership. In 2025, they were humbled by Geelong in the opening week of the finals, only to bounce back emphatically and conquer the Cats on grand final day.
But there was something about the defeat against Sydney on Saturday night that has raised greater alarm bells.
The Swans were without five players – including superstars Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney – after they were stood down as an investigation into sexual assault allegations continues. Skipper Callum Mills also succumbed to a serious knee injury, but Sydney rallied to triumph by 53-points.
Black admits he “wasn’t overly confident at half-past-five on Saturday afternoon” that the Lions would have the mettle to conduct the same fightback as last season, given the nature in which their defensive pressure completely left them at the SCG.
However, the three-time premiership hero believed his former club had the know-how to rectify those misgivings again, having already demonstrated that this year.
After their last loss – a 76-point drubbing against Carlton – they went on a three-game winning streak with victorious margins of 67 (Hawks), 42 (Suns) and 63 (Magpies), while before that, they won seven-straight following three successive fadeouts.
Black empathised with the physical and mental toll Brisbane’s run of deep finals campaigns has taken on the group – having himself felt that burden after four-straight grand final appearances for the Lions from 2001 to 2004.
“It does become a little more fatiguing, but that’s the sport right? This is why you make the sacrifices and build resilience mentally and physically,” Black said.
But Black felt the “lethargic” group which rocked up to Sydney would not be seen again against Adelaide at the Gabba, as they chase a triple-title dynasty to rival that of his all-conquering outfits.
“We know the scoring power they have, so I just feel if they can find their defensive pressure they’ll kick a score close enough to winning. Defensive will in finals is so important, it wasn’t there Saturday,” Black said.
“We’ve seen the Lions have an ordinary game throughout the season and bounce back. I’ll be surprised if they don’t do that this Saturday night.”
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