At just 21 years of age, Will Ashcroft is already a two-time Norm Smith medallist, but one of his teammates can consider himself very unlucky not to have taken the honour this year.
While it's not quite as midfield-centric as the Brownlow Medal, the Norm Smith has proven difficult for key position players to secure, defenders in particular.
Hawk Brian Lake back in 2013 was the last defender to claim the medal, but many felt Harris Andrews should have joined him in 2025.
“I had Harris Andrews,” Lions great Alastair Lynch said on SEN Tassie Breakfast. “I was invested, not financially, but I was emotionally invested in Will (Ashcroft) getting the job done.
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"I had him second or third, but I thought Harris Andrews was clearly best on ground.
“I was thinking, if the opposition coach had to remove one player from the field, who is he going to want to take off? I think that’s clearly Harris Andrews.
“He just had his way with Shannon Neale and intercepted everything down there.
“So I had him best on ground, probably Will second, and then Zac Bailey who would’ve been crushed if they hadn’t won the game with kicking 3.6. He was amazing.”
Andrews proved a cool head in a nervy start for the Lions and regularly extinguished Geelong scoring opportunities.
He was the only player to spend 100 per cent of the match on the ground, finishing with 18 possessions, 11 intercept possessions, nine marks and five intercept marks.
Lynch’s co-host Brent Costelloe also felt the Brisbane co-captain was best on ground.
“I would’ve given it to Harris Andrews, personally,” he said.
“I loved Will’s game, don’t get me wrong, but I thought Andrews - particularly in the first half - was outstanding.”
Ashcroft finished with 13 votes, while Andrews was second with six, including three from Kate McCarthy and two from Jack Riewoldt.