Please find below an edited transcript from what was said during the Q&A session.
Ash McGrath: Hi Guys, How ya going?
IanHaso84: Hey Ash, great to see you still in great form in the forwards and backs. Still enjoying footy?
Ash McGrath: Hey Ian, yeah still enjoying football, whether playing forward or back… Getting older, you have to enjoy your footy as you never know when it is gonna end!
Craig: Hi Ash, do you expect to play more forward or back this year? Which do you prefer?
Ash McGrath: Hey Craig, been training down back all pre-season so I think I will start down back and when Josh Drummond gets put back in the team I may get a chance of wandering down forward. So I'll see how I go! You will have to ask Vossy on Twitter
IanHaso84: That's great to hear. Speaking of getting older, you have been around the club during both the successful and less successful times. Do you see any difference at this point in things like motivation, training intensity, skill level, optimism etc. than in the last couple of years? Do you dig the new kids?
Ash McGrath: The motivation is still there to play in a Grand Final with this group of players and I think we have the potential to get there. I got to play in a Final when I was 20 years old and took it for granted so as you get older, watching teams play in the Grand Final, it really makes you want to get back there and experience it as a senior player.
And do I dig the new kids? They take my car park and they take my seat on the bus, so I had to let them know that senior players get to pick a seat on the bus and we have the right to choose a car park. Justin Clarke asks so many questions that sometimes I find my ears in bed before I get in there!
Pat: Hey Ash, of the new draftees, who do you expect will impress? Is Zorko a cut above due to his experience in the lower levels?
Ash McGrath: Hi Pat, hard to see who is a cut above as sometimes in training the senior boys get split up and the younger ones go to the back oval to catch up on drills and skills that us older ones are used to.
KLR: Hey Boonji, how long was that goal you kicked in the 2003 prelim against the Swans??
Ash McGrath: Hi KLR, haven't pulled out the measuring tape but I think about 82.7m, I'll have to get an accurate measurement for ya. I will step it out.
Davo: Hi Ash. Are you likely to play all the NAB cup games this year? Also Vossy has indicated he wants to have a real crack at the preseason competition. How has that changed the approach to the competition than in previous years? Obviously playing some of the experienced players is going to be a bonus.
Ash McGrath: We are lucky enough this year, compared to the others, our injury list is pretty small, and most of the senior boys are up and ready to go. Most of the boys will wanna play in the games to get back in touch. I will be having my hand up to play in most of the games, if not all of them.
Aleisha: Hey Ash, in your opinion who would be your top 3 Lion's players for the Super Coach??
Ash McGrath: Hi Aleisha, I wouldn't put Rocky in as he is a cat and gets all the cheap kicks. I would probably put my main man Jack Redden, the slick one - Simon Black and Leuenberger .
Davo: Have you played any of your tricks on the new kids yet? Are you still the team prankster?
Ash McGrath: I have given Billy Longer a nickname. And I do like telling the younger boys that one of the coaches need to talk to them, so they go in and hit the coaches up. But it is still early in the year; something is bound to come up!
Sam: Hi Ash are you likely to do ‘Ooh Ah Ash McGrath’ on lions.com.au this year?
Ash McGrath: Hi Sam, yea think so… Watch this space...
Davo: What's Billy's nickname? Shorty?
Ash McGrath: Haha, it's just a thing between the boys!
Sam: Is Polkinghorne doing the brain busters again this year, and where do you expect to play - forward or back?
Ash McGrath: I don't care about Brain Busters as I was cheated out of the finals last year with a silly question. But I do find it funny.
I will probably be starting down back and see how we go!
KLR: How is Patty K going after his clash with the fence?
Ash McGrath: I think he is okay; I spoke to him yesterday and today. He has just got a little cork and some bruised arms but he will be fine.
He is lucky he didn’t hit his face as he is a bit of a pretty boy and it would have been disastrous. He takes after the Situation of Jersey Shore.
Michael: Hi Ash! What is your favourite music?
Ash McGrath: Hi Michael, I like all types of music from rock, rap but I have really got into a bit of mash up music by the Yacht Club DJs, some boys from Bendigo, doing well. Very good listening.
Jack: What’s your favourite movie?
Ash McGrath: Hi Jack, umm I have always liked Tears of the Sun, or the movie Life with Eddie Murphy.
Pat: Have you got anything special in store for Mitch Clark come Round 1? Will Rog Merrett line up on him or are you all itching to have a crack?
Ash McGrath: I don't really have anything special for him, I'll just let him know that his goal kicking wasn't too straight and the wind at the MCG might straighten him up!
Jerry: Hey Ash, with Valentine’s Day coming up, I haven't got anything planned out. What would you do? And any tips?
Ash McGrath: Hi Jerry, I will probably be sitting down watching Master Chef waiting for dinner to be cooked and maybe, be the one to change nappies... that's about as good as Valentine’s Day gets for me. I might pick a flower out of the garden.
I think Tommy Rockliff is the king of Valentine’s Day with his love for his girlfriend. So keep an eye on the sky for sky writing from Tommy Rockliff!
Robert: Hi Ash, do you think the team is in better shape fitness wise this year compared to previous seasons? Or when you get out on field during the Premiership Season does it come down to skill execution rather than fitness levels?
Ash McGrath: It's a mixture of both, it's so important now with the team zones and team pressers that your skills and fitness are at an elite level. Any turnover will end up with a score on the board.
Craig: Sounds like the boys have worked pretty hard to increase their fitness this year. Are you noticing a big difference among the team in simulation?
Ash McGrath: Yea, nearly the whole group has improved on last season’s running. We have new game plans this year so we are still working on it and working out all the kinks so we are ready to go Round One.
Davo: Do you have much to do with Harv's? What influences has he brought to the team?
Ash McGrath: Harv's looks after forwards at the moment so haven't had too much to do with him, but it's good to pick his brain. He's a bit of an old school coach which is good.
Sheryn: Did you enjoy the Family Fun Day last Saturday?
Ash McGrath: Hi Sheryn, we loved it! Really worked on my tan. It was good to get out there and see all our supporters getting behind us. So hopefully things on the footy field will make them happy.
Davo: Is it easier or harder playing against former teammates? I imagine you may play on Luke when you are playing GWS.
Ash McGrath: No, not really. As everyone knows once you pass that white line you are in another jumper and he is trying his best to stop my team from winning. So if I get a chance to rub that little man’s face in the ground I will and as always after the game, shake hands and catch up for a latte or two, or in Luke's case, a chamomile tea.
Rina: Hi Ash, who is the player that you find most difficult to play against?
Ash McGrath: Hi Rina, Um... there's a few that I find difficult to play against but if I know I am playing on a good player I really build myself up for them and they bring the best football out of me. Players like Mark LeCras from West Coast Budgies.
Michael: Hi Ash, you are my favourite player! Can you kick more goal for me this year?
Ash McGrath: Sure can Michael!
Davo: Who would win MasterChef at the Lions?
Ash McGrath: Definitely not Daniel Rich, because he had some boys over for a steak dinner the other night and when they were on their way over they had a phone call from Daniel asking them to go buy the steak.
But Amon Buchanon is a good cook while Joel Patfull burns toast!
Davo: Do you go to Joel Patfull's movie nights? Is he still playing chick flicks?
Ash McGrath: The last movie that we heard he watched was The Last Song, which I think was a Miley Cyrus movie. I think he had to shelve his chick flicks as he has big Goose Maguire living with him now.
Hank: Hey Boonji, what's your most memorable game?
Ash McGrath: I have a few, probably the 2003 Preliminary Final against Sydney down there and obviously the Grand Final of 2003.
Megan: Hi Ash, are you hoping to continue playing your role as a loose man in defence or would you prefer to play a closer one on one type role like Patfull or Merrett?
Ash McGrath: Loose man defence normally goes to Jed or Pearce, I normally have to lock down the Opposition’s small dangerous forwards.
Steven: Hey Ash what are the orange tops people are wearing in the videos?
Ash McGrath: They're just to split us up into teams during training.
Brendan: G'day Ash, big fan of yours. Which Lions player has most impressed you this pre-season?
Ash McGrath: Hi Brendan, little Sammy Sheldon, had a bit of a hiccup at the start but he is absolutely flying now and Mitch Golby.
Craig: Who are you tipping will be the first debutant for the Lions this year?
Ash McGrath: Hi Craig, it's hard to say. Most of the boys have trained really hard and worked really well so I would be happy for any of the young boys to get a crack.
Thanks guys, great chatting with you all.
GO LIONS!!
You can also CLICK HERE to view some of the recent live chat transcripts with Bryce Retzlaff, Aaron Cornelius, James Polkinghorne, Josh Green, Dayne Zorko and Brent Staker.
