Retired Ashley McGrath (2000-2014)

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With speculation beginning to surround the potential movement of Free Agents at season’s end, the Brisbane Lions can rest easy knowing that the majority of their senior players with eight or more years of experience are already locked into contracts beyond 2014.

The only Lions who feature on the 2014 AFL Free Agency list are veterans Jonathan Brown and Ash McGrath – both of whom are probably unlikely to switch clubs at this stage of their careers.
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http://www.lions.com.au/news/2014-03-13/lions-avoid-free-agency
 

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I watched it AGAIN, and sat with the stupidest grin and tears welling in my eyes...AGAIN.

..a truely wonderful moment for Ash to treasure:hearts: (and the rest of us too)

Thanks Ash.
 
McGrath poised for return

After spending the past four months on the sidelines with a persistent calf injury, Ash McGrath is expected to line-up for his first match of 2014 this Saturday.

McGrath initially hurt his calf on the eve of the NAB Challenge pre-season series, and struggled to overcome the complaint in the early stages of the season. But for the past couple of weeks he’s trained with the main group, and now looks ready to resume a role up forward. “Ash will be back available this week. Obviously he hasn’t played yet this season, so you’d imagine he’d come back through the Reserves,” Burton said as part of the Bupa Recovery Report.

Should he get through training, McGrath will likely line-up for the Lions Reserves in Saturday’s clash against Redland at Coorparoo. The last time he played a competitive match was back in Round 23 of 2013 against Geelong at Simonds Stadium – when he kicked a game-high six goals and almost guided the Lions to an upset win.
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More NEAFL for McGrath

Despite booting four goals in the NEAFL upon his return from a calf injury last Saturday, it’s unlikely that Ash McGrath will be rushed back into the senior side in time for Saturday night’s clash with Greater Western Sydney at the Gabba. As tempting as it might be to inject McGrath's skill and experience back into the forward line, the fact he's been sidelined for more than three months is reason enough to take a more careful approach.

McGrath was lively in his first official match for the 2014 season, but Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Hass said the veteran would need at least one more match in the NEAFL to regain match fitness. In the regular Reserves Wrap on lions.com.au, Reserves Coach Leigh Harding also suggested that McGrath would benefit from another NEAFL hitout. “He obviously lacked a bit of match fitness, but that will come over next few weeks,” Harding said.
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Is there life left in Ash McGrath?
The last remaining premiership player at the Lions is fighting for his career, and he showed glimpses of what he can offer in the forward half. With Brent Moloney and Andrew Raines continually shunted to the twos, coach Justin Leppitsch has shown this season he has little patience for older players not doing things his way. After a three-month calf injury, McGrath made two appearances as a sub before getting his first full crack against the Eagles. He's a clever footballer and showed just why, with a roved goal early in the second quarter, and a clever one-handed mark and checkside kick for another later in the term. He's not in his best shape, but the out-of-contract 31-year-old still looks dangerous in the forward half.
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Still our best and most dangerous forward player IMO.
 

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Looked like his opponents were exploiting his lack of run (especially defensively) last night.

He has dropped a few hints in articles and his column thus year that he wants another year. Needs to lay off the chips and work harder on his fitness than he ever has before if he really wants to send Leppa a message.
 
McGrath's last hurrah

2003 premiership player Ash McGrath, today announced he will retire from AFL football following Sunday’s clash between the Lions and Fremantle. McGrath will take to the Gabba one last time on Sunday after a career spanning 213 games and 14 years. A product of South Fremantle, McGrath was originally expected to be a top-five pick in 2000, but a badly broken arm prevented him playing at the U18 National Championships. However, McGrath remained clearly on the Lions’ radar and was drafted with the Club’s first selection (Pick No.13 overall) in the 2000 National Draft.

After making his debut in 2001, McGrath went on to kick 169 goals and play 213 games for the Lions including that unforgettable 200th game against Geelong in Round 13 last year at the Gabba, when the Lions came back from 52 points behind late in the third term, to defeat the Cats with the final kick of the game. MGrath’s retirement marks the end of an era, as he becomes the last remaining member of the Lions’ triple premiership sides from 2001-2003 to retire. cGrath’s longevity in the game will see him rightly go down as one of the Lions’ greats.

A total of 1,414 players have played a senior match throughout the Club’s combined 128-year history (including Fitzroy and the Bears), but only 26 have managed to reach 200 games. McGrath is one of them.
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Time was right: McGrath

THE LAST link to the Brisbane Lions premiership era is gone, with Ash McGrath announcing his retirement. After battling a calf injury for much of the season, the 31-year-old said it was a pretty easy decision in the end. McGrath was a member of the 2003 premiership team and will finish up after Sunday's game against Fremantle at the Gabba. The South Fremantle product has played 213 games since being drafted by the Lions with pick No.13 in the 2000 AFL Draft.

Speaking to a packed media conference at the Gabba on Thursday, McGrath said his decision to retire was confirmed last Saturday night when he sat on the couch with wife Amanda and watched the Lions thrash Collingwood at the MCG. "I've been thinking about it all year, but it wasn't until the last month that I sat down with Leppa and tried to work out some stuff," he said. McGrath made his debut in 2001 and will perhaps be best remembered for his 200th game against Geelong last year in which he kicked an after-the-siren goal from outside 50m to lift the Lions to a remarkable comeback victory. McGrath, always the joker, said it was no coincidence he chose this week to announce his retirement. "I thought I'd do it today because on Monday we've got skinfold tests, so it saves (strength and conditioning coach) Matty Hass bringing the barbecue tongs - so I thought I'd knock it out of the way now."
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Veteran Ash McGrath hangs up boots, signalling the end of Brisbane Lions glory days

LION King Jonathan Brown has lauded retiring Brisbane forward Ash McGrath as one of the most talented teammates he ever played with. McGrath, 31, announced yesterday that Sunday’s clash with Fremantle at the Gabba would be the 214th and final senior game of his 14-year AFL career. It is the end of an era at Brisbane with McGrath being the last player from the club’s premiership hat-trick in 2001-2003 to hang up the boots. Brown said McGrath’s legacy at the Gabba would be an “old school’’ combination of great talent, great bloke and great under pressure. “He was as naturally gifted as anyone I played alongside, that’s for sure,’’ Brown said.

“He’s the last one of the premiership players to retire but Father Time gets us all eventually and there’s no doubt that Ash was a terrific footy talent. “Ash was under-rated outside of the club but he was a great player for the Lions. Anybody who lasts 14 years has a fair amount of resilience and courage. “He was versatile and was always good in the big moments. You could always count on him. “Very few people would have been able to pull off that kick after the siren against Geelong last year.’’

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Brisbane Lions' Ash McGrath announces retirement

Tough utility Ashley McGrath, the last remaining link to the Brisbane Lions' 2001-03 triple premiership era, will play his last AFL match on Sunday against Fremantle. Lions football operations general manager Dean Warren paid tribute to McGrath on Thursday. "He came to Brisbane as a 17-year-old and has grown up here," said Warren. "Ash's longevity in the game is a testament to him as both a player and a person. "To have someone with that sort of experience at your club is invaluable." Former skipper Jonathan Brown was the only other man on Brisbane's 2014 list to have played in any of the 2001-03 premiership teams and he retired midway through the season due to injury.
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