Lachie Ash on his rise to All-Australian contender and defensive general with GWS Giants

Lachie Ash looked at Caleb Serong, Noah Anderson, Chad Warner and Tom Green and knew he had to get better — fast. The GWS star details the drive behind his rise to All-Australian contender.

The Giants’ two Lachies in defence might have emerged as one of the most damaging one-two combinations in the AFL, but in reality, it’s a partnership that was destined to be successful.

For as long as Lachie Ash can remember, he has looked up to his now GWS teammate, Lachie Whitfield.

Even when Ash was a bright-eyed teenager dreaming of an AFL career, he knew that Whitfield would be the perfect role model to emulate. And now that choice has come to fruition with the pair working in synergy to help lead the orange tsunami in 2025.

“Whitters from day one when I walked in the door has been unbelievable to me,” Ash said. “He was one of my favourite players growing up, so to come here early days to learn and watch him, how hard he works and the things he did off the field, it was great for me.

“When the Giants started talking about the orange tsunami, I was probably 14 or 15 at the time and loved watching footy. There was a game at the MCG, my dad and I watched behind the goals in level three, and I just remember watching how hard he worked. I wasn’t watching where the ball was.

“It’s one thing that still sticks with me to this day, how hard he worked, and you still see it, he’s our hardest in-game runner. He locks himself in and does everything he can for us to win.

“He’s a massive part of my career and I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without him, and obviously the help of a few others, but he would definitely be the cornerstone to that.”

Lachie Ash identified as a teenager that Lachie Whitfield was a player he wanted to emulate during a trip to the MCG in 2016. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The two quickly struck up a relationship from the moment Ash arrived at the club as the number four pick in the 2019 draft. He was given the No. 7 guernsey to wear for his debut season, placing him directly next to his idol and now mentor, Whitfield, in the locker room, who wears the No.6.

The pair bonded over long footy chats, similar review sessions and a shared desire to constantly find ways to improve their game. A two-time All-Australian and two-time Kevin Sheedy medal winner, there aren’t many better to look up to in the game than Whitfield, but in 2025, the roles have suddenly changed.

Ash has now stamped his own credentials as one of the game’s best players.

At regular stages throughout the season, he has been rated as the number-one player in the game by Champion Data, rewarded for his daring run off halfback and silky skills by foot.

For so long, Whitfield has been the barometer for success for the Giants. But now, it feels as though Ash is running the show.

Ash has emerged as one of the best players in the game in 2025. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

“I’m enjoying it,” Whitfield said.

“I’m just (saying), ‘Come through mate, you can take the mantle’.

“I’m super proud of the way he’s playing at the moment. He’s been brewing, coming to this level for a couple of years now, and he’s really dangerous with the ball, and obviously the speed and run to go with it.

“He’s just a hard worker, and it’s good to see him play some really good footy. He’s a really important player for us at the moment. To be able to move the ball fast off halfback is the way we want to play, and he’s pivotal in that.”

The speed and ball use that Ash has shown this season has seen him finally live up to his tag as a top-five draft pick. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

And although Ash’s decision-making and maturity have certainly improved during his sixth season in the AFL, it’s anger over a disappointing 2024 that has sparked his career-best form.

The 23-year-old is currently averaging 28 disposals, 561 metres gained and five score involvements a game. It has earned him recognition across the competition as being on track for All-Australian honours if his form continues.

But realistically for Ash, it’s consistency that has been a long time coming. And it will mean nothing if he can’t keep it going and help lead the Giants back to finals.

“I was really disappointed with my year, last year,” Ash said.

“I had built some good momentum, whereas last year I let myself down and lowered my colours.

“That lit a bit of a fuse in me over the summer. I had a few issues with my body, and it’s been nice to be able to fix those. And then the burning feeling in the guts of what happened last year was still there, so I used that bit of anger to get myself going.

Ash plays with a burning desire to help lead the Giants to success, with his form sparked by at anger about how he “lowered his colours” in 2024. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“The last few years, you look at the Caleb Serongs, Tom Greens, Noah Andersons, Chad Warner, they’re all my draft year, they’re all in the All-Australian conversation, and the best players on their team. It doesn’t make you question whether you can do it or not, but it’s a reminder that you need to get going.

“It’s been nice to prove to the AFL world, not to myself because I’ve always had the belief, but it’s nice to have some consistent footy, which is something that took a bit longer for me in my career than I would have liked.

“I’ve had a good start to the year, but I don’t want to let that slip away and dwindle into the second half of the year. So it’s keeping hard on yourself, training hard and doing all the things from the early rounds to get yourself going and have a consistent year.”

Originally published as Lachie Ash on his rise to All-Australian contender and defensive general with GWS Giants