Get to Know Marcus Ashcroft

29/03/2022

From a triple-premiership star to a business leader. Get to know our CEO Marcus Ashcroft.

It’s been a long journey in the footy world for Marcus Ashcroft. The ex-Brisbane Bears and Lions star has been in an AFL/VFL role for over three decades since he joined the Bears back in 1988.

Despite being born here in Melbourne, our CEO grew up on the sunny beaches of the Gold Coast after his family moved up there when he was three.

“I’ve got a younger brother so we were always outside doing everything that young boys do growing up so it was a great environment for that,” Ashcroft said.

“With regards to footy there wasn’t much AFL on the Gold Coast as a young guy so I stumbled over it as a third or fourth sport, it was mainly rugby league & rugby union [up there].”

However, after stumbling upon this great sport of ours, Ashcroft went on and played 318 games at the Bears and Lions in his career, representing the Allies and Queensland six times as well as being a part of the Lions' golden era between 2001 and 2003.

“I've got a lot of teammates that are still mates today based on that experience we all went through, Brad and Chris Scott, Alastair Lynch, Craig McRae, Luke Power, Simon Black, all those guys I’m still very much mates with now and at the time enjoyed playing with every one of them.”

After retiring at the end of the Lions three-peat in 2003, he decided to focus on a more administrative and leadership role.

“I always enjoyed the administrative & leadership type role. I did a little bit of coaching but wasn’t really passionate about it.

“So when I retired, I had a year doing that [coaching] and then after that went back to Brisbane and was a footy manager, an operational role there, and then Gold Coast and did the GM of Football role there.

“And then similarly I came to Victoria to I guess get outside of my comfort zone a bit and do something a bit differently in the National Talent Pathways as a manager and a leader there.”

One player that came through the AFL academy during his time there was No.1 pick Sam Walsh, with Ashcroft admiring him as a player now.

“He has this unbelievable work ethic, this unbelievable desire to be the best he can be each and every day and I think that’s just the way he operates as a person and in life.

“He is who he is and whether it’s football or whatever else he does in his life he makes sure he commits himself every single day to be the best person he can be.

“I really admired that in a young man coming through and he’s got a set of values that are really strong that he sticks to no matter what circumstance and there’s no surprise that he’s played the level of footy he has as only a third or fourth year player.”

Whilst he was comfortable in his National Talent Pathways role, our President, Nick Johnstone, came knocking on his door in 2020.

“I was happy doing that [role] and really enjoyed that, but there was an approach made by Nick and I went down that process and really thought it was a great opportunity.”

The last few years have presented its challenges due to COVID, however his burden was lessened due to the optimism of everyone at our club.

“The biggest challenge for us was trying to maintain hope and optimism for our fans and our Sandringham Football Club community, like our sponsors who were so generous, they kept putting money into the football club to keep it going.

“Our members, our supporters, our fans that just wanted to see some footy - just trying [to] keep them engaged as we could and give them some hope and optimism that it was going to turn and footy wouldn’t be too far away because what’s also great about our footy club is we’ve got some great people that exhibit all of those traits of optimism and hope.

“Through such a difficult time we’ve got some staff, coaches, players and volunteers that just couldn’t wait to get into it and the energy they had around the place overrode the pressure around COVID and what everyone was going through; there was always this sense of ‘ok we’re not too far away, let’s keep pushing on’ and the energy was always there to get back to where we are now.”

Since he’s joined us, he’s enjoyed every minute of it and has enjoyed the Southern Saints in particular growing into the side it has become.

“It’s very difficult for our girls because they don’t get paid, most of them work or study during the day so they come down to the club at 5pm or 6pm at night but they always walk in with a smile, they give 100% every time they train or play and they have this energy that makes you want to do the best for them.”

He’s also excited about what the future holds at our club and the great opportunities that’ll continue to present themselves.

“Got some exciting opportunities around, the redevelopment of our change rooms which is heading in the right direction, we’ve got a great Board lead by Nick Johnstone who are really supportive and our relationship with the Saints is really strong.

“We’ve got the core of a great set of values and people that stand by them and I think once you’ve got that there’s a general understanding that we’re heading in the right direction.

“I think with good people and a good plan on where you’re going everyone gets really excited about that, so I’ve loved every part of it so far and even more so what’s in front of us.”

Written by Joshua Ward - Sandringham Football Club Media