OAKLEIGH Chargers wingman Yuyu Ashwin is our NAB League Player of the Week for Round 9. The speedy top-ager enjoyed a breakout game in his side’s 37-point home win over the Calder Cannons on Saturday morning, posting monster numbers of 34 disposals, nine marks, eight inside 50s, and three goals.

Ashwin, a member of Collingwood’s Next Generation Academy, played a handful of NAB League games last year and has built on his bottom-age efforts as a constant in Oakleigh’s 2022 side. Before Round 9, his highest disposal tally was 15, as he averaged a tick over 12 touches in his first six games.

Those numbers make his latest effort all the more remarkable. Ashwin was a constant threat on the outside, backing his speed to break forward and set Oakleigh off on the front foot. His finish product took some time to get going, but proved damaging once those kicks on the fly began to hit. It even helped him trouble the scorers.

It is hardly a surprise that the Chargers, who boast four players in our June Power Rankings top 25, have been able to cover the private school talent made unavailable to them during the mid-season stretch, with players like Ashwin stepping up and enjoying greater responsibility in their roles.

Ashwin is the second Oakleigh product to earn a Player of the Week nod this year after Elijah Tsatas took out the prize in Round 3, and he becomes the fifth Metro-based talent to do so. He joins quite an esteemed list, which includes top prospects like Tsatas, Will Ashcroft, Harry Sheezel, and top mid-season draft pick Jai Culley.

Having knocked off Calder for a second time this season, Ashwin and his Chargers will now travel to Ballarat to take on Greater Western Victoria at Mars Stadium on Saturday. The prolific talent region sits at a comfortable 6-1 as the top Metro side after nine rounds of home-and-away action.

2022 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL NAB LEAGUE BOYS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1: Jai Culley (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 2: Will Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 3: Elijah Tsatas (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 4: Harry Sheezel (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 5: Seth Campbell (Tasmania Devils)
Round 7: Lewis Hayes (Eastern Ranges)
Round 8: Taj Campbell-Farrell (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 9: YUYU ASHWIN (OAKLEIGH CHARGERS)