At the tip of the spear in the Big V win was Shepparton and Katandra product Lachie Ash, whose 25 disposals, seven marks, and trademark run and dash netted him the EJ Whitten Medal as Victoria’s best-on-ground.
The 2018 Shepparton Bears premiership player showcased the form that saw him earn a place in the 2025 All-Australian squad, saying post-game it was an honour to don the Big V in the first State of Origin clash against WA for nearly 25 years.
“Firstly, it was a privilege and an honour to be here this week,” Ash said post-game.
“I was actually a little bit nervous coming over this week, whether I belonged, when you look at the names on the team sheet.
“They've been really good players for a long period of time, or they're stars of our competition.
"I guess I probably doubted myself whether I was up to it or not, but 'Scotty' (Chris Scott) and the boys were really good, so was 'Gaz' (Lyon), in (reassuring me) I was good enough and here for a reason."
The 24-year-old stood up at key moments when the game was on the line, beating the likes of Nick Daicos and Marcus Bontempelli to the award named after the legendary Footscray and Victorian representative, which was presented by Whitten’s son Ted Whitten Jnr.
The Vic’s jumped out to a 20-point lead at quarter-time in front of 58,000 supporters in Perth before holding a 22-points buffer at the main break.
Victoria appeared to have the match sewn up with a commanding 29-point lead, but Western Australia mounted a final-quarter fightback to close within 10 points.
Ash’s GWS teammate Jesse Hogan claimed the equivalent best-on-ground honour for WA after his five-goal haul.
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