Rod Ashman

Recruited from Eaglehawk in the Bendigo Football League, Rod Ashman established himself as one of the premier rovers of his generation and a cult hero at Princes Park. Standing at just 173cm, he was the heart of Carlton's famous "Mosquito Fleet," a group of smaller, pacy players including Ken Sheldon and Alex Marcou who wreaked havoc at ground level during the club's successful era in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Ashman was renowned for his extraordinary courage, often putting his body on the line against much larger opponents, and possessed an uncanny goal sense that saw him boot 370 majors, a high return for a midfielder who spent significant time resting in the forward pocket.

Ashman's career was defined by his consistency and influence in big games, playing a pivotal role in Carlton's premiership victories of 1979, 1981, and 1982. A dual All-Australian and regular Victorian representative, he finished second in the Brownlow Medal during the 1981 season, highlighting his standing among the elite midfielders of the competition. After retiring in 1986, he remained deeply involved in the football landscape through various coaching roles, later being inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame as a key architect of the Blues' golden era.