Playing primarily in the forward pocket, Ashman was a member of Carlton's famous "Mosquito Fleet" which was pivotal to the club's success in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[1] He played in back-to-back premierships in 1981 and 1982.
Ashman's courageous style of play saw him suffer frequent concussion. After getting concussed several times in the space of a month, Ashman wore a helmet for the rest of his career.[2] Although he didn't like it, he realised its value in a match against Richmond where he got kicked in the head, but was protected by the helmet.[2] When he suffered a stroke in May 2010, Ashman wondered whether it was the result of one of those concussions he sustained during his playing days.[2]
Ashman was inducted into Carlton's Hall of Fame in 1993[3] and was later named in the forward pocket in Carlton's Team of the Century.
South Australia 26.16 (172) defeated Victoria 17.14 (116), at Football Park, 16 May 1983, crowd: 44,521
Western Australia 16.22 (118) d Victoria 16.19 (115), at Subiaco Oval, 12 July 1983, crowd: 44,213