\n Another GIANT has been named to take part in the 2026 AAMI Origin game.\n <\/p>\n
GIANTS defender Lachie Ash has capped off a starring breakout 2025 campaign by being named to\u00a0represent\u00a0Victoria in the 2026 AAMI Origin game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ash is among the\u00a0latest\u00a0players selected to take part in the highly\u00a0anticipated\u00a0Origin clash which will see Victoria and WA\u00a0do battle at Optus Stadium on Saturday, February 14.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of the league\u2019s most improved players over the\u00a02023 and 2024 seasons, Ash\u2019s\u00a0selection\u00a0comes after a\u00a02025\u00a0season in which he took his game to even greater heights and was named\u00a0to his maiden All-Australian squad.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Increasing last year\u2019s average of 20.3 disposals per game to 27.9 this year, the dashing defender also averaged a whopping 543 meters gained,\u00a0to go along with 6.3 marks and 6.4 rebound 50s per game to become one of the league\u2019s most damaging running weapons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ash\u2019s\u00a0Origin\u00a0selection\u00a0is further recognition for his stellar 2025 campaign and cements his standing as one of the league\u2019s\u00a0best running defenders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old, who hails from\u00a0the small town of\u00a0Katandra\u00a0and\u00a0who\u00a0represented\u00a0Vic Country as a teenager,\u00a0will now don the Big V once again as part of the AFL\u2019s return to Origin football\u00a0in February.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 2026 Origin game will see state-based rivalry return at the elite level for the first time in more than 25 years, having last been played in 1999 when Victoria played South Australia at the MCG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Filled with\u00a0stars\u00a0from\u00a0across the league, Ash will feature in the Origin clash alongside his superstar skipper Toby Greene,\u00a0previously announced\u00a0as a Victorian representative.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ash and Greene\u00a0could go toe-to-toe with some familiar faces in\u00a0what sure to be a heated state versus\u00a0state clash, with\u00a0fellow GIANTS teammates Sam Taylor\u00a0and Jesse Hogan both chosen to\u00a0represent\u00a0their home of WA.\u00a0<\/p>\n
GIANTS Executive General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney, said it was great to see Ash\u00a0named to\u00a0represent\u00a0Victoria.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLachie had\u00a0a fantastic season\u00a0and it\u2019s exciting to see him rewarded with the chance to play\u00a0State of Origin footy,\u201d McCartney said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the last couple of seasons,\u00a0Lachie has continued to work on his game and each year\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0become a better\u00a0player and really\u00a0established\u00a0himself as a key\u00a0part\u00a0of\u00a0our side.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTo\u00a0have Lachie join Toby Greene, Sam Taylor, and Jesse Hogan as\u00a0GIANTS\u00a0representatives in the Origin\u00a0game is a huge honour\u00a0and something I\u2019m sure they\u2019re all very proud of.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 2026 AAMI AFL Origin game will start at 7:40pm AEDT on Saturday, February 14 at Optus Stadium, with the game to be broadcast on Channel 7 and Fox, as well as 7Plus and Kayo.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n