Having grown up on his parents’ Invergordon orchard, played junior football at Katandra and won a senior premiership at Shepparton, three communities will feel they are watching one of their own when Ash, 18, is selected to an AFL list.
The Ash surname is, of course, famous in the Goulburn Valley, Ash's father Stephen being a Goulburn Valley League hall of famer, a two-time Morrison medallist and a five-time premiership winner with Shepparton and Albury.
But while his father will go down as an all-time great country footballer, Lachie will tonight break ground his legendary father never did - being selected to a list to play at the elite level.
The Victoria Country and Murray Bushrangers co-captain has stayed patient all season and his wait to join the pros is virtually over.
“I've tried to take it week by week, but once footy's done and the Combine is all over, I've been keeping a close eye on trade period for what's going on there, to see who got what pick and where I might end up there,” he said.
“But you don't really know, so you've got to let it take care of itself. Because anything can change, and it can change on the night as well, so I'm trying to keep as open-minded as I can.”
Wherever he is selected Ash will need to pack his bags, but it appears almost certain the dashing half-back-flanker will not be visiting the Invergordon farm as much as he might like.
Greater Western Sydney has been heavily linked with the speedster at pick four, but Sydney (pick five), Adelaide (six) and Fremantle (picks seven and eight) would all be expected to take Ash should he fall to them, meaning a new home state is likely on the cards.
With virtually every club having interviewed him, it is easy to see why tonight feels like a lottery.
“I've honestly got no idea where I could be going, every club that comes and sees you obviously has a little bit of interest in you, but they don't give too much away,” Ash said.
“No club can really afford to say they'll take you at pick three or four or anything like that, because so much can change. My manager, I'm in contact with him a fair bit and he's got no idea either.
“It's a bit nerve-wracking to know one day your life could be normal, and the next day you could be in Melbourne, or you could be in Perth, who knows?”
As his junior football career wraps up, Ash's resume reads like an award-winning novel; under-18 All-Australian, two Murray Bushrangers runner-up best-and-fairests, two Victoria Country nods and one GVL senior premiership.
It is the last of those achievements that stands out for the teen, having excelled in Shepparton's fairytale two-point win to break Kyabram's 62-game winning streak last September.
While a special memory, the practical experience his 10 senior games have provided will be invaluable at the next level.
“I'm a little bit lucky I have played against men a fair bit,” Ash said.
“There's a few boys that haven't really played against men too much, so if I'm lucky enough to get an opportunity next year that'll probably hold me in good stead.
“It's definitely nerve-wracking to think blokes you've watched on TV and idolised, you could be right along next to them next year.”
And of the NAB League club that has helped him reach new heights, Ash said he would always owe the Murray Bushrangers.
“I can't fault the program; the amount of work the assistant coaches and the coaches and the support people have done for me, I'll never be able to thank them enough,” he said.
“The drink bottles on 40 degree days, Browny (coach Mark Brown) giving us a spray when we needed one, everyone who helped out, I'll never be able to repay them.”
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