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James Aish
Aish playing for Collingwood in August 2018
Personal information
Full name	James Aish
Date of birth	(1995-11-08) 8 November 1995 (age 29)
Original team(s)	Norwood (SANFL)
Draft	#7, 2013 National Draft, Brisbane Lions
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	83 kg (183 lb)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Fremantle
Number	11
Playing career
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2014–2015	Brisbane Lions	32 (8)
2016–2019	Collingwood	50 (15)
2020–	Fremantle	101 (10)
Total		183 (33)
Playing statistics correct to the end of round 22, 2024.
Career highlights
2× SANFL premiership player: 2012, 2013 2014 AFL Rising Star nominee
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

James Aish (born 8 November 1995) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Brisbane Lions from 2014 to 2015, and Collingwood from 2016 to 2019.

Early life

He is the son of former Norwood midfielder Andrew Aish, the nephew of 1981 Magarey Medallist Michael Aish and the grandson of former Norwood captain Peter Aish.

Aish broke a South Australian National Football League (SANFL) record by becoming the youngest Norwood player in 134 years to debut at league level. He was 16 on his SANFL debut at Norwood and played in SANFL premierships in both 2012 and 2013. Aish received Under 18 All-Australian honours in both 2012 and 2013. He was drafted by the Lions with their first selection, pick 7, in the 2013 AFL Draft.

AFL career

Aish was drafted by the Brisbane Lions with their first selection and 7th overall in the 2013 AFL draft. He made his debut in the opening round of the 2014 AFL season against Hawthorn where he collected 17 disposals. He collected a season-high 25 disposals (including 12 contested), laid four tackles and kicked a goal in round 6 against St Kilda, which not only helped the Lions secure their first win of the season, but also earned him a Rising Star nomination.

He went on to play in all but one of the team's 21 senior matches (he was rested from the Lions' Round 14 clash against Fremantle in Perth) and collected 20 or more disposals on nine occasions. Aish ranked 6th at the club in total disposals (370), 4th in marks (94), 5th in tackles (77), and 7th in clearances (43). He finished fourth in the NAB AFL Rising Star award - behind Lions teammate Lewis Taylor who was awarded the Ron Evans Medal - and finished ninth in his maiden Merrett–Murray Medal count.

In October 2015, he was traded to Collingwood.

He was traded to Fremantle at the conclusion of the 2019 AFL season. Aish's first season at Fremantle was during the Covid-19 affected 2020 AFL season which saw only 17 games played instead of 21. Aish finished the season having played all but one game. Although traditionally a midfielder before joining Fremantle, Aish's versatility means he often spends time rotating between the wing, midfield and defence.

Round 16 of the 2022 AFL season saw Aish collect 29 disposals and kick 2 goals during Fremantle's 8 point win over Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium.

Aish collected an equal career high 31 disposals and was among Fremantle's best in round 3 of the 2023 AFL season during the Western Derby at Optus Stadium.

Aish made the line-up for Fremantle's opening game of the 2024 AFL season against his former side the Brisbane Lions at Optus Stadium. Aish played an important role collecting 26 disposals and six score involvements during the 23 point come from behind win. He collected 29 disposals two weeks later in round three against Adelaide at Optus. Aish was one of Fremantle's better players in round four during their game against Carlton at Adelaide Oval, which was played in Adelaide due to the AFL's Gather Round. He finished the game with 27 disposals. The match was not without controversy as a kick which was touched by James before being marked by Matt Cottrell went unseen by the AFL umpire's, resulting in a crucial Carlton goal in the last two minutes of the game. The poor officiating was subject to both media scrutiny and fan backlash in the days following.

Personal life

Aish is currently studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science at Deakin University.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 17, 2024

Notes

1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

1. Walsh, Courtney (22 November 2013). "Brisbane recruit James Aish grew up at the Norwood club". The Australian.
2. ^ "Lions draftee James Aish feeling at home in Brisbane". 27 November 2013.
3. Davis, Greg (23 November 2013). "Brisbane Lions delighted to land SA star James Aish with lucky pick seven in draft". The Courier-Mail.
4. "More than just an outside player: Lion Aish on the rise". 28 April 2014.
5. "Lion Lewis Taylor crowned the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star in closest ever count". 3 September 2014.
6. Bowen, Nick (22 October 2015). "Aish a Pie, Bastinac a Lion in three-way deal". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
7. "James Aish squeezed out of Collingwood, heads to Fremantle". The West Australian. 16 October 2019.
8. Nicholson, Alister. "A coronavirus-disrupted AFL season unveiled some innovations that should stay but others that should go". abc.net.au. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
9. Smith, Martin. "Young Dockers waiting in the wings as Aish eyes move to engine room". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
10. Schmook, Nathan. "Dockers drop anchor in top four with thrilling win over Port". afl.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
11. Schmook, Nathan. "Demolition Derby: Dockers, injuries too much for decimated Eagles". afl.com.au. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
12. "Fremantle Dockers vs Brisbane Lions - AFL Round 1, 2024". 21 March 2024.
13. Laidley, Danielle. "Danielle Laidley's player ratings: Every West Coast Eagle and Fremantle Docker ranked after round three". thewest.com.au. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
14. Schmook, Nathan. "Undisciplined Dockers hand Blues controversial win". afl.com. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
15. Kirby, Aaron. "Fremantle fans vent at controversial finish as fan footage appears to show James Aish's touch". thewest.com. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
16. Valencich, Glenn. "Fan-shot footage confirms Carlton's blatant robbery over Fremantle after controversial Matt Cottrell mark". 7news.com. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
17. Jovanovski, Jack. "Great fears AFL 'being left behind' over rule snub as blunder exposes need for radical change". foxsports.com. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
18. "Elite Athlete Program Profiles". Deakin University. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
19. "James Aish". AFL Tables. Retrieved 27 October 2018.

External links

• James Aish's profile on the official website of the Fremantle Football Club
• James Aish's playing statistics from AFL Tables

• 1995 births
• Living people
• Brisbane Lions players
• Collingwood Football Club players
• Fremantle Football Club players
• Norwood Football Club players
• Australian rules footballers from South Australia
• Peel Thunder Football Club players