DASHING defender Lachie Ash says it would be a dream scenario to join Greater Western Sydney and learn off his favourite player, Giants star Lachie Whitfield.
The 18-year-old Victorian Country half-back is firmly in the sights of the Giants with the fourth overall pick in Wednesday night's NAB AFL Draft, according to AFL.com.au draft expert Cal Twomey's Phantom Draft.
Ash believes it would be beneficial in his development to play alongside Whitfield at the Giants.
"(Whitfield) is my favourite player," Ash told AFL.com.au's Draft Night Countdown on Wednesday.
"It'd be good to get up there and learn off him and how he does it.
"It'd be good to try and get in his pocket and learn as much as I can from him."
Lachie Whitfield celebrates a goal for GWS in round 10. Picture: Getty Images
Ash said the Giants had visited him in his home town of Shepparton before the NAB AFL under-18 national championship and had also met his family after the draft combine.
Fellow draftee Dylan Stephens has also garnered plenty of interest and is predicted to be a top-10 selection.
100-PLUS PROFILES Get to know the top players ahead of the NAB AFL Draft
The classy outside midfielder – who hails from Mildura but represented South Australia at the under-18 national titles having gone to school in Adelaide – said he had spoken with Adelaide, Fremantle and Sydney.
The Swans have the fifth overall pick, the Crows are at No. 6 and the Dockers have back-to-back selections at seven and eight.
"I've had pretty strong contact with the Crows, as you would as an SA boy," Stephens said.
CAL TWOMEY'S 2019 PHANTOM DRAFT Top 30, your club's whispers
"I've spoken to them … probably three or four times and they've met my mum and dad as well.
"Fremantle met my parents probably three or four times.
"I spoke to Sydney early in the year and at the combine, but they haven't met my parents yet."
However, there's an outside chance he could slip to Carlton at pick nine, which would delight his family of Blues supporters.
FINAL DRAFT ORDER Check out your club's picks
"There is a little bit of hope there," Stephens said.
"My family saw the AFL thing with the Carlton guernsey photoshopped (on me) and it's been shared absolutely everywhere back in Mildura.
"I can only imagine my dad's reaction if that was to happen."
>> Follow the 2019 NAB AFL Draft on Fox Footy from 6.30pm AEDT on Wednesday, November 27 and Thursday, November 28. Not a Foxtel or Kayo subscriber? Cal Twomey, Nat Edwards, Riley Beveridge and Mitch Cleary bring you Draft Night Live on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App, from 6.30pm AEDT on Wednesday, November 27.
