CAREER BRIEFPrevious Clubs: South Fremantle/ArmadaleDraft Details: Selection No.13 – 2000 AFL National Draft.AFL Debut: Lions v Fremantle (Subiaco), Rd 20, 2001AFL Finals: 5CAREER HISTORY Talented utility Ashley McGrath took a real step up in 2005, inheriting the defensive goalsneak role formerly occupied by Craig McRae and kicking the most goals in general play in the AFL. McGrath has long shown immense promise inside the forward 50m, as evidenced by his six goals against the Western Bulldogs at Docklands in Round 22 of 2003. But he had to wait until 2005 to get a permanent opportunity in the forward line. And after a slightly slow start to the year that realised only three goals in the first five rounds, McGrath well and truly repaid the faith shown in his finishing instincts by the Lions coaching staff. With his hard chasing, tough tackling and clever crumbing, the 22-year-old became a real attacking threat, twice - against Richmond in Round 9 and Hawthorn in Round 19 - kicking five goals in a game. On another eight occasions he kicked two or more goals, making him perhaps the Lions' most consistent goal threat over the course of the year. All in all, McGrath finished with a career-high 35 goals from 21 games and placed equal eleventh (with Simon Black) in the Club Champion award - also a career best mark. Having followed the footsteps of older brothers Toby and Corey into the AFL, McGrath will be keen to pick up on that progression again in 2006. McGrath has often shown a handy knack for being in the right place at the right time on the field – and he could hardly have found a better time to join the Brisbane Lions. McGrath arrived as the Lions’ number one selection in the 2000 national draft and his first season in Brisbane coincided with the historic 2001 premiership. As the youngest player on the Lions’ list that year – he didn’t turn 18 until midway through the season – McGrath, not surprisingly, spent the majority of his first couple of campaigns playing in the QAFL. But by the time September 2003 rolled around, the cub had become a fully-fledged Lion. After kicking his six goals against the Western Bulldogs in Round 22, McGrath lined up at half-forward in the Lions side that beat Collingwood by 50 points to claim a third straight flag. Having played a combined total of 10 games during 2000 and 2001, the pacy McGrath enjoyed a breakthrough 2003 – playing 22 games, being named the Lions’ best rookie and earning an AFL rising star nomination. He played in 18 of the first 20 matches of the season in 2004 – missing two matches with a thumb injury – but was an emergency for four of the next five outings, including the grand final loss to Port Adelaide. That McGrath is a Lion at all is testament to the nous of the club’s recuiting manager Kinnear Beatson. The South Fremantle product was originally expected to be a top-five pick in 2000 but a badly broken arm prevented him playing at the under 18 national championships. McGrath’s projected draft status then slipped back to that of a late pick but Beatson, who had followed the youngster’s career closely, wasn’t about to leave anything to chance. McGrath was taken with the 13th pick – nine picks before fellow West Australian and 2003 premiership team-mate Richard Hadley. A noted hard worker in the gym, McGrath came to the Lions weighing 73kg but has since bulked up to 80kg<CAREER HIGHLIGHTS WA U16s 1999, Member Lions’ Ansett Cup New Zealand Tour Party 2001, Lions Reserves Premiership side 2001; Premiership Player 2003; Rookie of the Year 2003; Rising Star nominee 2003.