Lachie Ash will reach a significant career milestone on Saturday afternoon, but he says it is the furthest thing from his mind.

The dashing GWS defender will hit the 100-game mark this weekend during the Giants’ qualifying final against minor premier and cross-town rivals Sydney.

Ash is no stranger to the pressure of finals football.

Across his 99 games in the AFL, he has played in five finals with a record of three wins and two losses.

During those matches, the former Shepparton footballer has proven his ability to perform on the big stage, averaging 22.4 touches.

At the SCG on Saturday, Ash’s family will be sitting in the crowd, celebrating his rapid rise to 100 games — missed only seven games total across his first four years in the system.

But Ash has something far more pressing in his line of sight.

In the qualifying final, he will be tasked with stopping Swans stars Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley and Will Hayward from impacting the scoreboard.

A scary proposition at the best of times, let alone in a final.

With the Giants’ September run being Ash’s focus, the gun defender said he will look to enjoy the achievement with family after the season ends.

“I haven’t thought about it too much,” Ash said.

“More focused on the game, winning that, and enjoying that after - it will be a nice achievement to look back on at the end of the year.

“It will be nice to have the family up and hang out with them after.”

Ash has had plenty of highlights during his first five seasons at the Giants, including a one-point elimination final win over Sydney in 2021.

Although he finds the on-field moments special, the former number four draft pick said that he cherishes the off-field moments.

“My first win was a good one,” he said.

“We played Collingwood up in Sydney on a Friday night and we only won by a couple of points.

“Last year as well, winning those two finals and making it to a ‘prelim’ in front of close to 100,000 - that was pretty cool.

“The main memories - everyone probably says this - are those 30 minutes after you win a game of footy in the changerooms with the boys.

“It is probably some of the best fun I have had since being at the club.”

Like most of his 2019 draft class, Ash faced a tough start to life as an AFL footballer.

Moving away from home to join an interstate club, his journey was momentarily halted due to the pandemic.

Now, nearly five years into life in Sydney, the 23-year-old said he is settled.

“Coming from a farm and a country town, it took some adapting moving to a big city, especially with Covid - I came to Sydney and Covid was the next March,” he said.

“It probably took the best part of two years to get settled into Sydney and start enjoying my time here.

“I often found early on that I would look forward to going home and circle it in the diary when I could go home to the farm.

“For the last probably two-and-a-half years, I have really settled into Sydney and have found a good rhythm and routine on days off with hobbies, etc.”

Despite the distractions of living in a city nearly 800 km away and the fast-paced, all-encompassing nature of being an AFL player, Ash said he still finds time to keep track of the various football leagues in the Goulburn Valley.

“I check the scores of most of the country footy leagues around home most Saturday nights,” he said.

“I have been keeping in touch with a few of the Bears boys as well.

“I watched the qualifying final on the weekend (against Echuca) on livestream.”

The Bears lost to the Murray Bombers on Saturday afternoon, but they are arguably still favourites alongside Echuca to feature in the Goulburn Valley League grand final later this year.

It would be the Bears’ first senior football grand final appearance since 2018, a match Ash remembers fondly.

“I didn’t play much senior footy that year (2018); I was playing Bushrangers and that sort of stuff,” he said.

“Was able to to come back for the prelim and final and I was actually pretty nervous for those two games — I didn’t know what to expect having not played for them much throughout the year.

“The game itself was a whirlwind — I just remember the aftermath.”

The celebrations for Shepparton’s grand final victory were massive, with the Bears overcoming powerhouse Kyabram in a thriller by two points.

Ash remembers how much the win meant to him and his father, Stephen, a 309-game legend for Shepparton.

“The thing I remember most vividly is walking into the changerooms and you literally couldn’t fit another person in there — they were packed,” he said.

“Dad and I had a nice moment after the game together — it’s something I will never forget.

“It ended up being my last game for ‘Shepp’, but it was a good last one to finish on before I moved on in my journey.

“That community feel sometimes gets lost when you play AFL footy; you don’t get that community feeling where you can go to the footy and have grandparents, parents and kids all in the same place on the weekend.”

Given the family’s history with the Bears, the Ash name is highly respected at Shepparton.

The former Murray Bushranger said he loves returning to Deakin Reserve when he comes home during the off-season.

“(Shepparton) are always so accommodating of me and I have been able to train with them and still be involved and feel like I have never left, which I appreciate,” he said.

“I love getting back there and showing my support as they have supported me.

“It feels like a second home as you walk around the place and you know every face that is there.

“All the older guys around Dad’s age, I know them because I have been kicking around there since I was a young ‘fella’.

“I had the opportunity to play some senior footy there as well and build some relationships and good friendships with boys at a similar age and now Ryan and his mates are starting to play a bit of senior footy as well.”

Ash’s younger brother Ryan debuted for the Bears’ senior side in round 17 and kicked his first goal during last weekend’s finals loss to Echuca.

Although the 99-gamer plans to have a long career in the AFL, Ash said when he does retire, he hopes to play a season or two with his younger brother and hometown friends.

“The boys mention, ‘Would you play footy after you’re done?” he said.

“The only reason I would keep playing footy (after AFL) is to go back and play with my mates at Shepp or, if Ryan was still playing, to have a year with him.

“With six years age difference I never got to play sport with him growing up, so it would be nice to play a year or two with him.”

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Sunday, 28th July 2024

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