With ball in hand, top-10 AFL draft prospect Lachie Ash is unapologetically brave, highlighted by his dash from half-back.

It’s a bravery that’s just as evident off the field.

Ash is the nephew of ex-Demon and former Fremantle coach Chris Connolly – a man who’s played a significant role in Ash’s footy development to date, but none whatsoever on his AFL team of choice.

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Finals Week 1

Connolly held a couple of roles at Melbourne, including football manager, between 2008 and 2013. The Dees finished in the bottom five of the ladder in every one of those years. During that same timeframe, a young Ash was beginning to explore which AFL team he should support.

Ash tried to be loyal to his uncle. But as the Melbourne losses stacked up, he turned his back on the Dees – and joined a team in the midst of a golden era.

“When he was at Melbourne, I was a Melbourne supporter and they were s***house, so I jumped ship to Geelong and been there ever since,” Ash tells foxfooty.com.au.

Chris Connolly gave Tom Scully and Jordan Gysberts a taste of the Melbourne theme song moments after they were drafted … Source: News Limited

“He’d say ‘come and watch us’ and I’d be like ‘nah I don’t want to watch us lose’.”

Ouch. Brutal.

Ash isn’t the only one from this year’s AFL draft class that’s gone against the family grain. Although, Noah Anderson – the son of former Hawk and Saint Dean Anderson – never felt the same pressure.

“I’m a Richmond fan,” the likely Pick 2 tells foxfooty.com.au.

“I picked them when I was really, really little – and Dad went for Richmond when he was a little kid. He didn’t force me either way.”

Other prospects with famous family connections, however, have supported the same clubs.

Hawthorn father-son prospect Finn Maginness, the son of 131-game Hawk, is set to land at the club he’s supported all his life. Same goes for Jackson Mead, the son of Port Adelaide best and fairest Darren Mead, who “kind of didn’t have a choice” growing up.

Utility Miles Bergman supports St Kilda – the club his dad played a few reserves games for – while star Western Australian midfielder Deven Robertson barracks for the West Coast Eagles as that’s the team his uncle Darren Glass won a premiership and three best and fairests at.

Tom Green is a Richmond supporter with a soft spot for the Giants. Source: Getty Images

South Australian defender Will Day supports the Gold Coast Suns, as he’s followed his cousin Sam Day ever since he was drafted in 2010. “It has been a bit tough but I’ll stick by them,” he says.

Star midfield prospect Tom Green lives in Canberra and is the Giants’ top academy prospect. But he’s always been a fan of Richmond – the club his grandfather Michael won four premierships at during the 1960s and ‘70s.

As Green puts it, the most recent AFL Grand Final week was “a bit conflicting” due to his allegiances.

“I’ve got the family tie to Richmond, who I’ve always supported, and GWS, I trained there over summer and I know a lot of the people at the club and the players,” he tells foxfooty.com.au.

“I did support Richmond – and that’s who I was always going to support – but if GWS had won I wouldn’t have been disappointed because I did want to see those boys do well.”

Likely top-10 prospect Luke Jackson is a Fremantle supporter – but primarily due to circumstances beyond his control.

Jackson was originally an Eagles fan growing up but could never secure Perth-based West Coast memberships as they’re in such high demand. It led to the almost blasphemous switch.

“It’s a weird story,” he tells foxfooty.com.au with a laugh. “We couldn’t get an Eagles membership because they always sell out and Freo’s was always left.”

Luke Jackson Source: News Corp Australia

Jackson, however, remains fiercely loyal to star Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui, who he idolises.

Fellow WA prospect Trent Rivers is an Eagles fan, but insists he’s “not as mad as my dad”. Rivers loves Mark LeCras – a lot.

“I’d always try and get No. 2 back in juniors,” he tells foxfooty.com.au. “One of Mum’s friends is Dean Cox’s wife, so I gave Mum an Eagles jersey and it got to Mark and he signed it. I’ve never met him personally, but I’ve got his signature.”

Some players, though, aren’t wedded to AFL teams. Rather, they prefer to follow players than teams – an attitude many have towards the NBA.

“When you’re a bit older and when you get into the system, I kind of don’t barrack for anyone really, it’s more just barracking for players and positions,” Geelong Falcons prospect Cooper Stephens tells foxfooty.com.au. “Nat Fyfe is the one I enjoy watching the most, Joel Selwood and Shaun Burgoyne I’ve watched a lot.”

South Australian high-flyer Kysaiah Pickett says he likes “watching players, especially the indigenous boys”. Asked to name his top three indigenous players, Pickett tells foxfooty.com.au: “My favourite is Cyril Rioli then Andrew Krakouer and Willie Rioli. I love watching the small forward indigenous boys, they bring a lot of magic to the table.”

Jackson Mead follows the Power. Source: Getty Images

THE AFL CLUBS STAR DRAFTEES SUPPORT

Matt Rowell — Carlton: “It’s been a tough few years following the Blues.”

Emerson Jeka – Essendon: “My grandfather was a mad Bombers supporter. He passed away a couple of years ago, but I was really close with him and he brought me up to barrack for Essendon.”

Sam Flanders – North Melbourne: “It’s all from Dad’s side. Dad’s dad down and it’s just been passed on and had no real choice.

Harrison Jones – Essendon: “My Pop, my Dad and my Pa all go for Bombers. I think I was either Essendon or Collingwood growing up, but I think Essendon.”

Jack Mahony – Collingwood: “My whole side of Dad’s family is Collingwood so I didn’t really get a choice. I’m kind of thankful because they’ve been successful.”

Fischer McAsey – Western Bulldogs: “My Dad supports them and his family grew up in Footscray so there is a bit of family connection there.”

Dylan Williams – Essendon: “Because Dad does.”

Caleb Serong – Sydney Swans: “Back in 2006 when they were going alright I was just picking and choosing and whoever was winning. They started to win a few finals so I stuck with them once they won the flag.”

Dylan Stephens – Carlton supporter: “I’m a Victorian boy, so everyone in my family is a Carlton supporter, so I haven’t had a decision growing up.”

Cooper Sharman – Essendon: “That’s who Dad goes for, I probably didn’t have too much choice.”

Brodie Kemp – Hawthorn: “It has been ingrained in my family for a number of years. I’ve supported them ever since I was born.”

Cody Weightman – Collingwood: “Just from birth, it wasn’t by choice, but I love the Pies. My Dad was a Pies man and he got me and my brother and we are both Pies.”

Trent Bianco – Collingwood

Liam Henry – Hawthorn: “Growing up I loved watching Cyril as a player. I probably based my game around him in offence and defence work. I watched him and tried to base my game off stuff he did.”

— with Matt Balmer

