Will Ashcroft never made a secret of his desire to be the AFL's No.1 draft pick.
While the Brisbane Lions father-son recruit ultimately had to wait a little longer than he had hoped, he ended up at the club where he was always destined to be.
"It's out of my control," Ashcroft said after being drafted at pick two on Monday night, with Greater Western Sydney opting to use the top selection on key forward Aaron Cadman.
"I've done everything I can this year and worked on what I could and put everything I could forward.
"I respect what other clubs want to do with their picks. It's not for me to judge over.
"I'm happy with where I sit and looking forward to playing footy."
Ashcroft, the son of Brisbane triple-premiership great Marcus Ashcroft, knows he faces a battle to break into a talent-packed Lions midfield.
But the 18-year-old is buoyed by the prospect of working alongside Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale and boom recruit Josh Dunkley in a team that shapes as a premiership contender in 2023.
"It's going to create a really strong environment, which is what I want to be a part of," Ashcroft said.
"I want to be part of a winning culture and I value my leadership, my desire and my winning mentality to win games of footy.
"I think I'll fit in really well there and it just makes me hungrier and keener to fight hard for spots and win games for the Lions."
Ashcroft was one of two father-son selections by Brisbane in the first round of the draft, joined by Adrian Fletcher's son Jaspa.
The Lions had to match North Melbourne's bid at pick two to land the nation's best underage midfielder.
Ashcroft had conversations with the Kangaroos before nominating as a father-son selection for Brisbane, with whom his father Marcus played 318 games.
"Following in his footsteps and going to a club where he was so successful as an individual and the team is an awesome feeling for both of us," Ashcroft said.
Ashcroft could be joined at the Lions in 2025 by younger brother Levi, who was an under-16 All-Australian selection this year.
"He's got to put two more good years together and see how he goes," Ashcroft said.
"I've got full faith that he'll do everything he can to be the best player he can be.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how he develops and if that's what he wants to do."
Ashcroft was born and raised in Queensland before relocating to Melbourne as a teenager.
He will move to Brisbane on Wednesday and take part in his first training session with the Lions that afternoon.
