Coaching seems to run in the blood for siblings Josh and Hayden Ashcroft.
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Even if it is in different football codes.
This year isn't the easiest to be at the helm for a club but it didn't stop Josh stepping in at the 11th hour to help lead Turvey Park to join younger brother Hayden in the coaching ranks this season.
Hayden, who is the youngest coach in Group Nine this season, doesn't believe having a longer preparation with Kangaroos affects how either approaches their roles now that the season has finally arrived.
"I think people have a fair idea of what they want to achieve," he said. "You obviously take on a little bit more responsibility moving into a coaching role than you do a player but the preparation is the same - you want to get yourself fit as a player.
"Now you just take on more responsibility but I'm sure at their club they've got plenty of help and we're in a similar situation as a club.
"We've got great juniors bases and great support so it makes our jobs easier."
Turvey Park were in need a new coaching set up after Mark Carroll and Jeremy Sykes stood down due to coronavirus concerns earlier this month, but Josh didn't hesitate to join Chase Grintell in leading the Bulldogs forward into the AFL Riverina Championships.
"It's just good to be able to play footy," he said.
"That is the main thing. I'm just enjoying getting on the paddock and enjoying my little bit to help the club to get the boys on the paddock and point them in the right direction if I can."
And while there are plenty of similarities in their football paths, the pair have never played together.
Both played rugby league and Australian Rules growing up before electing a different sport to try to pursue further.
Combining the two codes was just part of the family dynamic.
"(The family) is half and half," Josh said.
"Mum's side of the family is rugby league and dad's side is Aussie Rules - Turvey Park through and through.
"We both grew up playing both, I played rugby league until I was 18 and then the opportunity arose in the Aussie Rules department so I went that way."
While Hayden chased the rugby league pathway before returning to Wagga this season.
"We all grew up playing both but at the age where you have to choose I went with league while my other two brothers went with Aussie Rules," he said.
Family allegiances might be split evenly, although the youngest Ashcroft Brad also plays for the Bulldogs, but it makes it hard for parents Brett and Janet to be in two places at once.
They went to Turvey Park's loss to Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong on Saturday but with the Bulldogs heading to Leeton this week they'll head to Equex Centre as Kangaroos chase their first win of the season against Southcity.
"They come to watch me on Saturday but I think it will be the opposite this week and they will watch Hayden," Josh said.
"They take turns. I think they decided to take the easy option and stay in Wagga."
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