Lachie squared: The Giant duo rivals envy

The modern game has demanded that clubs invest in elite ball winners and users across half-back.

All contending clubs have multiple all-star players who feature as the launch for the majority of their scores, and GWS is no different.

Two Lachie's (Whitfield and Ash) are arguably the most important pieces in Adam Kingsley's puzzle, and are an area rivals look to quell to stop the 'Orange Tsunami'.

Whitfield has been a bona fide star since being taken with Pick 1 in the 2012 National Draft, claiming two All-Australian blazers and two best and fairests.

But his partner-in-crime, Ash, is mounting an impressive claim for his maiden representative nod at season's end, ranking among the best general defenders in the competition.

"As soon as he (Ash) got to the club, we took a liking to each other," Whitfield said.

"The fact that he knew he wanted to play half back, he came to me pretty early and wanted to learn. We built that partnership from the day he walked into the club, and we got a good friendship off the field as well.

"He's big into his footy, and loves to watch it, loves to learn, so we talk a lot about it... have in-depth chats and try and solve all the problems together."

For the better part of a decade, Whitfield has been the No.1 man at the Giants across half-back, especially after the departure of Heath Shaw in 2020.

When the former Pie left his second club, a vacancy opened, and Ash was drafted specifically as Shaw's replacement, taken with Pick 4 of that year.

The Murray Bushrangers product has been building nicely, to the point where Whitfield is willing to let go of the crown as GWS' main distributor.

"I'm enjoying it," Whitfield added.

"I'm (saying) come through and take the mantle, but I'm looking to improve every day as well. We both play better together, and that's what a good partnership is... he's definitely doing that for me."

Some of the best clubs have a Batman and Robin partnership in defence. Collingwood has Josh Daicos and Dan Houston. St Kilda has Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair. Gold Coast have John Noble and Daniel Rioli. The Western Bulldogs have Bailey Dale and Bailey Williams. Hawthorn has Karl Amon and Jarman Impey.

The trend is already setting in, and in the Giants' case, they're already ahead of the curve.