Lachie Ash

Lachie Ash
Personal information
Full name Lachlan Ash
Born (2001-06-21) 21 June 2001
Katandra, Victoria
Original teams Katandra, Shepparton, Murray Bushrangers
Draft No. 4, 2019 national draft
Debut 19 June 2020, Greater Western Sydney vs. Western Bulldogs, at Marvel Stadium
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position Defender
Club information
Current club Greater Western Sydney
Number 7
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2020– Greater Western Sydney 127 (8)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2026 Victoria 1 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 1, 2026.
2 Representative statistics correct as of 2026.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Lachlan Ash (born 21 June 2001) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Greater Western Sydney Giants with the 4th draft pick in the 2019 AFL draft.[1][2][3]

Early football

Ash was born in Katandra, Victoria where he participated in the Auskick program.[4] He played junior football in Katandra Football Club and senior football at the Shepparton Football Club.[5] Ash represented Vic Country at the AFL Under 18 Championships for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.[6][7] He also played for the Murray Bushrangers for two seasons in the NAB League.[8][9][10]

AFL career

Ash debuted in the Giants' 24-point loss against the Western Bulldogs in the third round of the 2020 AFL season.[11][12][13] Ash collected seven disposals and three marks.[14] Ash took home the club's Rising Star award at the conclusion of the season,[15] and had a career-best game in his team's 39-point loss to rivals Western Bulldogs in the 6th round of the 2021 AFL season, where he collected 35 disposals and 15 marks to be one of the Greater Western Sydney's best on ground that game.[16][17]

In 2023, Ash adopted a new role under coach Adam Kingsley as a lethal running defender which resulted in a two-year contract extension.[18] He played a career-best 26 games that season as the Giants made a deep run into the finals series.[3] Running out of the defensive 50 alongside Lachie Whitfield, Ash began to epitomise Kingsley's "Orange Tsunami" game style.[19]

In 2025, Ash averaged 28 disposals and became the Giants' premier half-back. He was rewarded with a selection in the 2025 All-Australian squad, but did not make the final team.[20] In February 2026, Ash played in the 2026 AFL Origin, representing Victoria in their win against Western Australia. Ash was voted as the best on ground for Victoria in the match, winning the E.J. Whitten Medal.[21]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 1, 2026.[22]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2020[a] Greater Western Sydney 7 12 1 0 79 57 136 31 22 0.1 0.0 6.6 4.8 11.3 2.6 1.8 0
2021 Greater Western Sydney 7 23 1 1 265 127 392 111 63 0.0 0.0 11.5 5.5 17.0 4.8 2.7 0
2022 Greater Western Sydney 7 21 2 7 206 132 338 97 54 0.1 0.3 9.8 6.3 16.1 4.6 2.6 0
2023 Greater Western Sydney 7 26 2 1 403 220 623 140 40 0.1 0.0 15.5 8.5 24.0 5.4 1.5 0
2024 Greater Western Sydney 7 19 1 1 243 143 386 101 33 0.1 0.1 12.8 7.5 20.3 5.3 1.7 0
2025 Greater Western Sydney 7 24 1 1 443 226 669 149 49 0.0 0.0 18.5 9.4 27.9 6.2 2.0 7
2026 Greater Western Sydney 7 2 0 0 41 10 51 21 4 0.0 0.0 20.5 5.0 25.5 10.5 2.0
Career 127 8 11 1680 915 2595 650 265 0.1 0.1 13.2 7.2 20.4 5.1 2.1 7

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ^ "Lachlan Ash". Footywire. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Pick 4: Lachlan Ash". GWS Media. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Lachie Ash | AFL". gwsgiants.com.au. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  4. ^ AFL Record. Round 2, 2022. pg 86
  5. ^ Cherny, Daniel (23 November 2019). "Draft prospect Ash is the talk of the town". The Age. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  6. ^ Doerre, Chris (17 April 2019). "Line-breaker Lachlan Ash rising up AFL draft boards". ESPN.com.au.
  7. ^ "Lachlan Ash". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  8. ^ Waterworth, Ben (30 October 2019). "'Sh**, that's what it takes': How new AFL star has won draftees' hearts". Fox Sports. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Lachlan Ash - Biography". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  10. ^ Smith, Georgia (26 November 2019). "Bushrangers Ben Kelly and Lachlan Ash await 2019 AFL draft". The Border Mail. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  11. ^ Valencich, Glenn (19 June 2020). "AFL debutant Lachie Ash's emotional phone call to mum and dad". Seven News. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Round 3 • Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants - Line Ups". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  13. ^ Alvaro, Michael (22 June 2020). "2019 AFL Draft Focus – Round 3: Rowell wows again, Ash debuts". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Round 3 • Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants - Player Stats". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  15. ^ Twomey, Callum (27 October 2020). "It's a tie: Giants pair can't be split in Kevin Sheedy Medal". AFL Media. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  16. ^ Pegan, Martin (23 April 2021). "Injuries galore as Dogs break Giant shackles late to stay perfect". AFL Media. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  17. ^ Meyers, HB (24 April 2021). "Western Bulldogs v GWS - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly". The Mongrel Punt. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  18. ^ GIANTS Media (18 July 2023). "Ash Commits". gwsgiants.com.au.
  19. ^ Garb, Daniel (9 September 2023). "How a star Tiger helped elevate Giant's game from afar". afl.com.au. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Ash Ready to Roll in Origin Alongside the League's Best". gwsgiants.com.au. 28 January 2026.
  21. ^ Schmook, Nathan (14 February 2026). "Victoria overcomes spirited WA in enthralling Origin clash". afl.com.au.
  22. ^ "Lachie Ash". AFL Tables. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
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