“PRETTY sick.” 

That’s how Ashton Moir would describe his first year as an AFL player. 

Despite only playing two quarters of football at the highest level in 2024, Moir has loved every minute of his time at Carlton so far and is hungry for a greater taste.

Admitting skipper Patrick Cripps gave him the same advice, Moir spoke of his commitment heading into his first off-season to springboard into another campaign which he's already casting an eye on. 

“I was talking to ‘Crippa’ about this and he was talking about having that taste of it,” Moir said. 

“It’s really making me want to train a lot harder over the off-season, going into the pre-season in really good shape to make sure I do everything possible to get a full game under my belt and solidify myself as a player in this team.”

From being drafted at the end of 2023 to where he’s at now, the whole thing has felt like a blur for the young forward.

Being visited at home by Bryce Gibbs to being coached by Michael Voss and mentored by Cripps, the Glenelg product couldn’t have been happier with the environment he walked into at IKON Park.

“It’s such a great team, and such a great environment to come into: to be a part of something like this this year was a dream come true,” he said. 

“I was really starstruck when I first saw Bryce Gibbs and I feel like that’s continued for the year. Walking in and seeing Michael Voss chat to me, Paddy Cripps and Sam Walsh, I’m still starstruck at the moment to be honest.

"It was really cool.”

Playing 17 games with the Carlton Reserves gave the 19-year-old a good sense of the Carlton system that he was being exposed to for the first time.

Being thrown around in a few different positions to fill the gaps throughout the year, Moir welcomed the added versatility in his game, giving him confidence that he can fill roles in the AFL side when needed.

“It really helps to understand the system, as well as getting up around the ball, it shows a bit more versatility just in case if I do play more AFL,” he said. 

“It was a really up and down year [in the VFL], but staying resilient as a team, staying connected was a massive part of it.” 

Getting his chance in the final two games of the home-and-away season was a moment Moir will never forget. 

Playing his first AFL game in Perth against his childhood team in the Eagles and in front of his family was a surreal moment for the debutant, but he conceded the next week playing in front of a Carlton home crowd was the next level up. 

Both games featured an impressive goal for Moir, who got to experience the Carlton roar at its maximum particularly in Round 24.

“It was sick, it was such a great experience - especially against West Coast. I grew up going for West Coast and to be able to debut in front of my family over in WA, my family coming over as well,” he said. 

“[The home crowd] is just unbelievable. There are so many people there, it’s ridiculous. I haven’t played in front of that many people before: just a taste of it, I want a lot more.”

Now heading into his second year, Moir believes he’s learnt a lot more about the mental side of his game, wanting to embrace and enhance his mindset, as well as his physical attributes.

Working closely with Head of Development and VFL Senior Coach Luke Power, Moir is dedicated to improving his craft to solidify his spot in the senior side. 

“I feel like the mental strength part of it is a massive part of AFL – you’ve got the physical point of view, you have to be fit, strong, fast. But I feel like 95 per cent of it comes from your mind and to be able to train your mind as hard as you train your body,” he said. 

“[Luke Power] is the main one that I go to, doing craft every morning, doing vision every week. He’s the one I really go to and look up to, he’s had a massive impact.”