Josh Lai has never felt defined by his Singaporean heritage, but there’s no doubt it’s an important element in his story. 

Less than two years ago, the 20-year-old diamond in the rough was plucked from suburban football by the Port Adelaide recruiting team and brought into an AFL environment following a successful supplementary selection period audition. 

Just over 12 months later, he was fast becoming a mainstay in the backline of the Power’s AFL side, and this weekend, he’ll be one of many AFL players celebrating his roots during the Cultural Heritage Series. 

In 130 years of V/AFL football history, less than 40 men of Asian descent have played at the top level. And in that time, Josh is believed to be the first Singaporean. 

It’s something Josh feels proud of, but it’s only one part of his identity. 

“It is cool if I have a positive influence on someone else (of Asian descent),” he told portadelaidefc.com.au. 

“That feels like a nice impact to have (but) I don't really think about it that much. It's a good little benefit though.” 

On October 1, 2005, Josh and his identical twin brother Sean, were welcomed into the world by mum Donna and dad Tim. 

The pair were born in a Singapore hospital, despite the family residing in China at the time. It was Tim’s work that took the family to China, but his family’s roots and an exceptional healthcare system that prompted a brief return to Singapore to have his boys. 

Tim was born to Singaporean parents and his family moved to Sydney when he was 11. That’s where he later met Donna, and their love story began at the University of New South Wales. 

Tim goes back to his motherland regularly, maintaining the connection with his family and his own childhood roots.   

“Dad speaks Mandarin and English,” Josh said. 

“We tried learning growing up but it never really stuck. We kept trying to learn once we moved to Melbourne and gave it up pretty quick. I feel like you have to grow up speaking it for it to really stick. 

“Dad speaks English with his family, but his (Singaporean) accent comes back. He sounds very Australian but (the accent) comes out naturally when he's with his family.” 

Despite recalling glimpses of his formative years overseas – studying at an international school, playing soccer with Sean, attempts to learn his father’s native tongue – much of Josh’s childhood was spent in Melbourne, after the family relocated. 

It was his time living on the east coast of Australia from the age of seven that he felt developed him most as a young man, and as a footballer.  

His interest in sport started with soccer in China, and it wasn’t until the Lais moved to Australia that he even knew anything about Australian Rules.  

Josh looks back on his childhood fondly. He and Sean attended Mentone Grammar in the bayside suburb of Melbourne. They had a shared friendship group and what Josh describes as a “super normal” life. 

Both boys embraced footy quickly, but eventually had to leave soccer behind when the two sports begun to fall on the same weekend day. 

“Growing up in Melbourne was good,” he said. 

“School was very different (to school in China). We started playing footy and picking that up. We were both really into sports. It was a pretty big adjustment. I'm sure it was tougher for mum and dad, but it seemed pretty seamless when I think about it now. 

“For the most part, (Sean and I) did pretty much everything together. Footy, sport, same friend groups.” 

Josh’s father’s family all still reside in Singapore, and he has pleasant memories of regular visits from Melbourne during his younger years. 

“All of dad's side is in Singapore still. He's got a sister, his mum is there and we have some other relatives there. 

“The last time I was there was probably two years ago. Dad goes up a couple of times a year and sometimes we go, probably every couple of years or so.” 

Food is something that stands out to Josh about his holidays to Singapore, but his off-season surgery last year prevented him from joining his family on their most recent visit. 

“It's a really small place, you run out of things to do!’ he recalled. 

“But it’s just eating…you eat the whole time you're there. We really just relax, enjoy the hot weather, roll around the city and just go there to see family.” 

This season has been an eye-opening experience for Josh in the AFL. He’s always had self-belief he could take his talents to the top level, but patience has proven to be a virtue for the young defender. 

Multiple unconventional AFL pathways have become available to late bloomers in recent years, and Josh’s SSP journey led to him making his debut in Round 3 this year against West Coast. 

“Obviously this year, that was the goal, to play AFL footy,” he said. 

“I thought I was capable, but I didn't know if I'd get there or not. I'm just happy that I'm playing games and to be part of the team. 

“(At AFL level), the whole decision-making side of the game is different…you can get away with making mistakes in the SANFL but here if you keep doing it, you're going to get punished, especially playing in the backline. 

“It's just cool to be part of one team where everyone is going out there and everyone is trying to win.” 

Josh now lives with three of his teammates – Ollie Lord, Ewan Mackinlay and Dante Visentini – in the inner southern suburbs of Adelaide. 

Life outside of footy is playing darts, walking to their local spot for coffee, hanging out with Visentini’s black labrador Enzo, and doing The Weekly Fifty together on a Friday. 

It’s a pretty normal lifestyle for a pretty normal bunch of guys. 

“It's been really good (living together),” Josh said. 

“Four housemates are a fair bit but we're not on top of each other all the time. It was nice living with a hosty (host family previously) but it's cool living with teammates and having more of that social aspect off the field. 

“I like Adelaide, I actually don't miss home a great deal. Everything is so much easier here, driving around, getting from place to place in 20 minutes.” 

Josh’s identity has evolved as he’s entered young adulthood – he’s a friend, a teammate, a son, an athlete, and so much more.  

And now, if his heritage has an impact on anyone, he sees that as a bonus. 

“(Representing my culture) is cool when you think about it, in the grand scheme of things. 

“I just want to try to keep playing good footy and getting better. I want to be reliable and chip away. 

“Any other impact I have is just a cool little side benefit.” 

This weekend’s Cultural Heritage Series sees Port Adelaide host GWS on Saturday night, in a celebration of all the cultures that make up the AFL community.