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Nicholas Quinlan • July 19th, 2025 4:08 pm
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has expressed his feelings towards those who criticise the concept of father-son/daughter selections in the AFL and AFLW.
In recent years, this issue surrounding these selections has risen with players such as Nick Daicos, Sam Darcy and Will Ashcroft all being father-son selections within the first five draft picks in their respective drafts.
As a result, this has led to criticism with Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick calling for the rule to be scrapped, believing it creates inequality amongst the competition.
The Brisbane Lions have recently benefited from this rule. In the last three draft classes, they were able to draft Will and Levi Ashcroft (sons of Marcus) and Jaspa Fletcher (son of Adrian) through the father-son rule.
This has helped the Lions build upon their premiership calibre list with Fletcher playing in both the 2023 and 2024 grand finals for the Lions.
While Will Ashcroft, who missed the 2023 grand final due to a ruptured ACL, would claim the Norm Smith Medal in the 2024 edition, helping Brisbane win their first premiership since 2003.
And in the case of Levi Ashcroft, he has played every game for the reigning premiers becoming one of the favourites to win this year's rising star award.
When asked by Sam Edmund whether he wanted the AFL to remove the policy, Fagan said that he was in favour of keeping it.
“I would be,” Fagan stated on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“I think the people who complain about it just don’t have any father-sons at the moment.
“I’m not sure if they would be coming out with the same complaints if they had a handful.
“And what goes around comes around. I mean, Brisbane didn’t have any father-sons not so long ago, and it's just happened that we’ve popped up with the two Ashcrofts and Jaspa Fletcher.
“But it might be a long time before another player or two comes along, and it will be someone else’s turn.
“And I think the idea that sons and daughters of great players (who) previously at the club get the opportunity to play at that club is a great part of our game.
“So, I’m not in any hurry to see that go. I just think it is one of those things that every now and then, you’re the beneficiary of it, but it’s not all the time, and it will be somebody else’s turn.
“I’d keep it. But I do find it amusing that the ones who complain the most are the ones who don’t have any.”
For more of Fagan’s chat on SEN's Crunch Time team, press the play button below.
