As Football Park goes, the Aish dynasty rolls on

JUST in case Jesse and James Aish aren't listening when their dads reminisce about the glory days, they can always watch them on DVD.

JUST in case Jesse and James Aish aren't listening when their dads reminisce about the glory days at Football Park, they can always watch the real thing on the big screen.

"They talk about old football stories and make us watch the DVD's - well the VHSs which have been converted to DVDs, so we've got them forever," Jesse said of his father Michael and uncle Andrew.

"And dad makes sure he's got them in his cabinet so we can never take them."

It must be a big cabinet because the Aish family's contribution to Norwood and South Australian football's highlights reel is not five-minute viewing. It's more like a feature-length film or documentary.

Michael is an SA Football Hall of Famer who played 307 games for Norwood from 1979 to 1993, which included two premierships and three years as captain.

He is also a Magarey Medallist, four-time Redlegs club champion and 15-time state representative while Andrew is also a Norwood premiership player and state representative after 89 games at league level.

The Aish dynasty at Norwood dates back to 1952, when Michael and Andrew's father Peter made his league debut for the Redlegs, and now spans three generations.

It includes premierships and state triumphs at Football Park which is counting down to its final game of big-time football this Sunday before the move to Adelaide Oval.

Andrew's son James, 17, will be involved when he lines up for Norwood in the SANFL league grand final against North Adelaide.

"We lived at Fulham and I remember on finals day driving down Military Road, turning into Trimmer Parade and you'd see the big stadium and the nerves would be there," Andrew said.

"The surface at Footy Park was different, it was much bigger and when it was empty it was a bit tough compared to playing at grounds like Norwood which are enclosed," Michael said.

One of their fondest memories is playing in the 1982 SANFL premiership together but it's also what happened the week before which Andrew remembers vividly.

"In the preliminary final the Norwood team was sitting in the forward pocket as spectators watching Port play Glenelg and it was quite hilarious in a way because it was whoever was left standing was playing us," Andrew said.

"And that's when Dave Granger and Cornsey had their big moment."

Only Michael played in the '84 flag which has become football folklore when Norwood came from fifth on the ladder to beat arch rival Port Adelaide in the grand final.

"The rivalry is there to this day and will always be there. It was drilled into us from four or five years of age," Michael said.

"You had the highlight of Craig Balme and Tim Evans going at it ... Then there were all the match-ups and great mark from Keith Thomas running the opposite way."

There was also Michael's amazing five-bounce run along the wing which resulted in a goal to Thomas.

"I ran down there and gave it to Keith, he kicked it (but) it was punched away, then Greg Thomas handballed to Keith as he followed up.

"Keith didn't have much time to throw it on the boot on a pretty acute angle and fortunately for us it went through which lifted you again."

The pair also said they had fond memories of State-of-Origin at Footy Park.

"The whole atmosphere of going to train on the oval with the other guys was huge," Andrew said.

"And playing a state game under John Cahill, he just revved us up again, it was so exciting."

Sixty years after their grandfather played league footy for Norwood, Jesse and James are creating their own history at Norwood and AAMI Stadium.

James played in Norwood's premiership side last year which he hopes to replicate this weekend, and looks set to be selected in the first few in this year's national draft.

"Last year was my first time (on AAMI Stadium). It was definitely a special feeling, the atmosphere was great," James said.

"It's bigger, especially compared to Norwood, and obviously the big grandstands add another dimension to it."

Jesse played on AAMI Stadium in the 2011 reserves grand final but remembers its aura when he was a child.

"Growing up trekking down there was a pretty nerve-racking trip," Jesse said.

"One of my biggest memories was the 1997 win, I was only 11 and to see them win as a diehard Norwood kid was fantastic."

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