BEFORE the weekend, you would’ve been hard-pressed to find someone with a bigger smile on their face than Ashton Moir on the day he arrived at IKON Park the day after he was drafted.

Then, Sunday 18 August happened — the day Moir made his Navy Blue debut.

From the moment Charlie Curnow announced in the team meeting that Moir would join Cooper Lord in the Carlton side, the excitement for the Blues’ newest No.43 was evident.

That was especially the case for mum Cynthia, who received a “conference call” alongside Ashton’s dad and brother upon the 19-year-old finding about the debut news.

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AFL R23 | Moir's AFL Goal of the Year nomination

Ashton Moir kicks an outrageous first career major with a super kick out of mid-air.

As a mum, that day and those that followed were all she could’ve hoped for.

“To come in and see him smile, happy and embracing the moment, it’s just awesome,” Cynthia told Carlton Media in the rooms on Sunday.

“It’s the one thing we’ve always wanted for him, to go in and enjoy it. This is what he loves doing: he has grown up loving football, and what a fantastic opportunity he’s got now.

“He’s the sort of kid that works really hard. He’s really resilient, he has had his setbacks but has persevered and been really dedicated. We’re really proud of him and the effort he’s put in. He has loved coming to Carlton, he has embraced all this opportunity.”

Moir found the perfect way to embrace that opportunity, when - after being subbed on in the final term - he produced a debut moment for the ages.

His first goal in football will go down as one of the finest in the history of the game, with Mum admitting to the pandemonium ensued in the stands. 

It was quite the change too, given Ashton had followed Cynthia’s footsteps in supporting West Coast from an early age. If there was ever any doubt, the goal and the celebrations post-match very much proved that this was a Navy Blue family now.

“That was a bit crazy! We did not expect that.

“I grew up in Perth and have always been a West Coast supporter, which Ashton followed. Having the debut, coming back to Perth and seeing family was really nice too.”

For the boy who arrived at the Blues from Glenelg, there were few greater thrills than receiving his first jumper from Stephen Kernahan.

“Oh my gosh. Awesome, what a thrill that was.

“He was very, very excited. What a great honour. It was a nice moment: we were so excited for him.”