Lachie Ash has put pen to paper on a fresh two-year deal at Greater Western Sydney.
The boy from Invergordon will remain at the Giants until 2025, making him the fourth Goulburn Valley product to sign contract extensions this winter after Laitham Vandermeer, Jarman Impey and Josh Rachele.
Ash, 22, said the decision to go around again for another two years at the club was simple considering he’s enjoying the strongest football of his career this season.
“Since they’ve (new coaching staff) come in it has been really exciting, but especially the last six or seven weeks,” Ash said.
“We’ve been playing really good, consistent footy and the club is heading in the direction that we all want it to go and where personally I want it to be and so it was an easy decision in the end to get it done.”
Ash, a Shepparton premiership-winning player in 2018, was selected at pick four by GWS in the AFL Draft the following year.
He went on to make his debut in June 2020, replacing an injured Toby Greene two days before his 20th birthday in a four-goal loss to Western Bulldogs.
Ash has gone on to tally 60 games at AFL level, but has gone from strength to strength this season under new coach Adam Kingsley, averaging 23.6 disposals a game.
“I feel I’m really starting to get some continuity week to week whereas early on in my career it was a few good games in a row and then a poor one and things like that,” Ash said.
“I feel I’m starting to become a lot more consistent and doing what’s expected of me week-in and week-out, which is something that I’ve been trying to chip away at for a long time.
“Having a consistent role across half-back and working with guys that play in the backline has been really nice to build some continuity with them and learning off them more so than anything.
“Guys like ‘Whit’ (Lachie Whitfield) and Harry (Himmelberg) and (Nick) Haynes and guys like that is something I’ve really enjoyed this year and been good fun and hopefully that can continue, and we can win games of footy on the way.”
GWS currently sits ninth on the ladder with five weeks of the home and away season left, taking on Gold Coast on Sunday.