In their first game for three weeks, the Bushies were locked in a low-scoring encounter against Tasmania at the weekend, turning a two-point deficit into a 42-32 lead at the last change.
Ash, brother to GWS defender Lachie, sparked the Bushies when the lead was trimmed to four points midway through the fourth quarter, racing towards the 50, baulking a Tassie defender, and unloading from just inside the arc to inspire his side.
The flashy passage of play typified Ash’s day in the Bushies’ engine room as the visitors unseated Tassie 8.6 (54) to 6.9 (45) at North Hobart Oval.
They were well-served by Calleja who, recalled for his first game since making his debut in round five, was a strong intercepting presence in the back half, earning himself top billing in the best.
The Bushrangers are currently 15th, but only one game outside the top eight with clashes against the Western Jets (17th) and GWV Rebels (14th) in their next two match-ups.
And the good news kept coming, with two of the Bushrangers’ bottom-agers picked for National Championship duties.
The Bushies announced that Shepp-Notre pair Lincoln Brand and Alex Whitlock had been tapped for the Victoria Country under-16 squad, with the pair poised to don the blue V.
Brand, no stranger to the Big V as a member of last year’s School Sports Victoria under-15 team, and Whitlock shape as next-gen Bushies after competing in the club’s two under-16 clashes earlier this year.
Victoria Country faces its Metro counterparts at Avalon Airport oval on June 9 from 12.45pm.
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