Ashcroft on Tuesday had just signed a two-year contract extension and won a Rising Star nomination, while fellow Brisbane Lions rookie Ashcroft was digesting news of his season-ending knee injury.
Ashcroft had been favourite to win that award at season's end - and be part of Brisbane's premiership push - while Fletcher has become one of coach Chris Fagan's first picked since a round 14 debut.
Ashcroft played all 18 matches and averaged 22 disposals a game in his debut season.Â
He could still win the Rising Star and is among the contenders for goal of the year after a stunning effort against Fremantle in April.
"We act as normal as we can around the house to try and take his mind off it," Fletcher said of Ashcroft, who tore his ACL in Saturday's defeat of Geelong.
"He's quite devastated and I'm quite devastated for him, but the club's great.
"We'll get around him. We've got good rehab staff and he'll be back better than ever and do some special things when he gets back."
The 19-year-old's father Adrian Fletcher played a total of 231 games with Brisbane, Geelong, St Kilda and Fremantle while Ashcroft's dad Marcus was a Lions premiership great.
Both players stay in regular contact with their fathers, who are careful with their advice.
"He said congratulations, but get on to next week," Fletcher said.
"That's footy; take the good and move on to next week."
The teenager and Lions academy graduate has overcome stress fractures in his back to force his way into the AFL side that can still book a top-two finish.
"I missed a lot of the pre-season and had a pretty slow start, which isn't how I wanted to begin my AFL career," Fletcher said.
"But I think that has set me up to be where I am now and showed me how hard I do have to work to earn anything in the AFL."
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