The Aish Family; A Norwood Dynasty

By Reonaldo Cialini and Wynton Heading
NFC History Committee


The Aish family has left an enduring legacy at the Norwood Football Club through playing careers that spanned six decades and a total of 620 club and 22 State games. 

What would become a dynasty at Norwood started in 1953 when nineteen year old Peter Aish  made his league debut against Sturt at The Parade on 8 August.  

Peter Aish

The high marking, dependable young back man quickly established himself at club and State level and he made his debut for South Australia at the 1956 Perth carnival, the first of five games he would play for the State.

Always a highly respected figure at The Parade, Peter was installed as club captain in 1960 and his form flourished. Playing mainly as a full back, he won Norwood’s Club Champion award in 1960 and 1961. 

After captaining the club for one further season, Peter retired in 1962 with 162 SANFL games and nine goals to his credit.

A life member of the club, Peter Aish was inducted the Norwood Football Club Hall of Fame in 2013.

Peter was the patriarch of the Aish football dynasty which continued to distinguish itself at Norwood through his sons Michael and Andrew and grandsons Jessie and James.

Michael Aish

Michael Aish is unquestionably one of the all-time greats of the Norwood Football Club. Loyal, highly-skilled and courageous, it is easy to see why he was popular with Norwood supporters. 

From 1979 to 1983 he played 307 league games and kicked 453 goals.

Only slight in stature, his ability to consistently find the ball and to fight for every contest was exemplary throughout his career.

Michael was a member of the 1982 and 1984 premiership teams and captained the club from 1987 to 1989. 

After making his interstate debut against Western Australia in Perth, he capped off the season by winning the 1981 Magarey Medal and was named Club Champion. 

Michael went on to record 15 games for South Australia, captaining the side in 1986 and 1989 and winning All Australian selection in 1983, 1984 and 1986. He was a member of the South Australian team that was crowned Champions of Australia in 1987.

The formation of the Adelaide Crows at the end of 1990 resulted in an exodus of Norwood players to the AFL. Fortunately for the Redlegs, Michael decided to play on in the SANFL. 

Serious back and knee injuries forced his retirement at the end of the 1993 season, but by then he had well and truly stamped himself as one of Norwood's greats. Quick thinking and evasive, he was scrupulously fair, yet fiercely competitive. A wonderful role model, he resisted many offers during his career to move interstate.

Michael was selected in Norwood’s Team of the Century and in 2018 was elevated to Legend in the club’s Hall of Fame. He is a member of the SANFL Hall of Fame and in 2023 was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Andrew Aish 

Michael’s brother Andrew was a highly-skilled footballer who made his league debut in 1981 and  served the club with great distinction over six seasons. 

Playing predominantly as a wing or half-back, he was speedy and creative and was also an outstanding overhead mark.
  
In 1982 he was an important member of the Redlegs team that went on to defeat Glenelg in the Grand Final. During the year he made his interstate debut for South Australia against Western Australia, with SA winning the match.
 
His fine form continued into 1983. He played 26 games for Norwood, reached his 50 game milestone, again represented the State against Western Australia and finished fourth in the Club Champion award.

Injuries and work commitments restricted him during the latter part of his career before he retired in 1987.

Andrew Aish played 89 games and kicked 62 goals for the Redlegs from 1981 to 1986.

Jesse Aish

Michael Aish’s  son Jesse came through the club’s junior ranks and made his league debut  in 2006. 

He made 10 senior appearances in 2007 and took out the club’s rising star award, the  McCallum Trophy.

Capable of playing forward or back, he consolidated his spot in the senior team in 2008, adding 17 games to his career total.

Injuries then restricted him to five league and 34 reserves games from 2009 to 2011.

Jesse returned to Norwood for five league games in 2013 and continued in the reserves in 2014.

In 2015 and 2016 he was an assistant coach for the Norwood Reserves.

Jesse Aish played 38 games and kicked 41 goals for Norwood between 2006 and 2013

James Aish

Andrew’s son James made his league debut against Central District at the Elizabeth Oval on 31st of March, 2012.

The 16 year old young gun slotted easily into the senior side, showing no sign of nerves or of rushing his work.

James was a member of the 2012 Grand Final team which defeated West Adelaide and, at 16 years 334 days, became the youngest SANFL premiership player.

A member of the AIS-AFL Academy, he played two seasons for the Redlegs, including another premiership, before getting selected by the Brisbane Lions with their first choice in the 2013 AFL draft.

During his brief career at Norwood he played 24 games including the 2012 and 2013 premierships. 

A clever and skilful midfielder/half back, James played 32 games for Brisbane ( 2014-2015) before transferring to Collingwood (50 games, 2016-2019) and Fremantle, (104 games, 2020-2025).
 
James retired from AFL football at the end of the 2025 season. 

The Legacy

When Peter Aish made his league debut at The Parade in 1953 little did he know that his family would  be part of the fabric of the Norwood Football Club for the next 60 years through the achievements of his sons and grandsons. 

The Aish Family Lawns on the northern mound at the Norwood Oval was opened by Club number one ticket holder Andrew Pridham AO on 10 April 2026. 

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