Hams looks to facing Big V after going three from three in state matches

ASHTON Hams has played in three state games for Western Australia and won them all, and the South Fremantle star would like nothing more now than to take part in a WAFL victory over Victoria next year.

By the time Hams returned full-time to South Fremantle in 2014 following four years and 39 AFL matches with the West Coast Eagles, he already was a dual WAFL premiership player and Simpson Medallist with the Bulldogs.

But he had yet to play state football and that has changed the last three years with Hams a key part of the WAFL team that has defeated the NEAFL in Sydney, SANFL at Lathlain Park and Tasmania at Steel Blue Oval – adding another Simpson Medal along the way in 2014.

Hams had another terrific game in Saturday’s record 134-point victory over Tasmania with 29 possessions and he enjoyed the whole experience to take part in a third straight win for WA.

“It’s been good and I’m three from three now. It’s always good to enjoy winning and it’s a privilege to play for WA, and to win makes it extra special,” Hams said.

“The last three years have been awesome. You play against these guys and think they are terrible blokes, but then you come together and find out they are all ripping blokes.

“That’s probably the best part about it and listening to all the legends at our last training session, what they remember is playing with the best of the best and getting to drink a few beers with them afterwards.”

Hams has been proud to take part in the wins over the NEAFL, South Australia and Tasmania the past three years that came on the back of a win over the VFL at Northam in 2013.

With the talk that South Australia and Victoria would like to play one another annually, Hams and his WA teammates certainly took that as a bit of an insult and as a result would rise to the challenge of playing the Big V in Melbourne in 2017.

“What we’ve talked about the last three years is that we want to be the No. 1 state and hopefully we keep proving that. The boys were all sensational, and played together and no one looks out for themselves which is what you want and made it extra special,” he said.

“It does sting a bit since we’ve beaten them recently as well. I probably see why they see things like that, but WA itself always seems to be forgotten a little bit so it’s not surprising. But all we can do is keep winning and prove them wrong.

“It’s a long way away to look to next year but to play over there against the Vics would be pretty special. Hopefully I get that chance but it’s a long way away from here.”

Hams was joined in the WAFL team on Saturday by his South Fremantle teammates Ben Saunders, Ryan Cook, Marlion Pickett and Tim Kelly.

Saunders booted another six goals to give him 11 in his two appearances for WA but he just fell short of the seven by East Fremantle’s Brett Peake. Hams enjoyed the experience with all his Bulldogs teammates.

“It would have been awesome if we could have got Saundo seven as well. We all know Saundo is a good player and to cap it off with six goals is pretty special I reckon in a state game. Cooky did his thing like he usually does as well,” Hams said.

“Getting to play with your teammates in state footy makes it that extra bit special as well. It was great to see TK make his debut and he’s had a great year so far so I think he’s going to play a fair few in his time. And Marlion always does his thing. Marlion is going to be one of those blokes you remember forever that you played with.”

The state game also gave Hams the chance to reconnect with his premiership coach John Dimmer who was an assistant for the WAFL team along with former teammate Clint Jones who he got to play with for the first time since he departed for St Kilda at the end of 2006.

“It’s been years for sure. It’s always good to catch up with him (Jones) again,” he said.

“It’s a shame he didn’t come back to Souths but that happens. Again it’s just good to come together and have a beer with guys you play against.”

Hams has quickly turned his attention back to the WAFL season with South Fremantle ahead of Sunday’s clash with Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

South Fremantle lost the Foundation Derby to East Fremantle last Monday but remain on top of the WAFL ladder. However, to ensure they stay there the Bulldogs need to beat the Thunder on Sunday.

“Hopefully we bounce back quickly. Last year after a loss we would lose three or four in-a-row so it would be nice to bounce back straightaway against Peel,” he said.

“There is still a long way to go in the season but if someone asked me at the start if we’d be 8-2 halfway through the year we’d take it.

“We just have to stay positive now and we have a big couple of games coming up against top five teams. We just need to knuckle down at training and hopefully get a couple of wins.”

Another big change to Hams in 2016 is the fact that he is a father for the first time after his partner Tess gave birth to their daughter Emmi late last year. She just happened to celebrate seven months being alive on Saturday for the state game as well.

“It’s amazing,” Hams said.

“Even for the state game she was there and when we lost the derby Tess brought up little Emmi and just to give her a cuddle it makes you soon realise that footy’s not everything. It is pretty special and it helps especially after a loss.