KANE Cornes and David King believe it is time the Western Bulldogs invest significant minutes in former number one draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, after a promising performance against Carlton in round two.<\/p>\n
Recalled to the team to replace Josh Schache, the 19-year-old had only six disposals and two marks to go with his early goal, but his work rate and game awareness was a highlight.<\/p>\n
The tallest of the Dogs\u2019 six forwards at 197-centermeaters, Ugle-Hagan couldn\u2019t be left to run around; he commanded the close attention of Oscar McDonald and later Lachie Plowman.<\/p>\n
He ran hard to pull the Blues\u2019 back six around, on a few occasions beat his opponent to the ball by several paces, and regularly brought the ball to ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you persist with Ugle-Hagan, don\u2019t you?\u201d Cornes said on SEN Breakfast<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought he was more competitive\u2026 I didn\u2019t think he was pushed off the ball or pushed under it like he has been.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were a couple of aerial balls that he attacked, and one he just gathered with the left hand in one mitt, almost Anthony Koutoufides style, and went to snap it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d just play him now. What better have you got as a second target than Ugle-Hagan, with Marcus Bontempelli floating through there?\u201d<\/p>\n The chemistry piece should also be a consideration for the Dogs, not just the Next Generation Academy graduate\u2019s development curve.<\/p>\n Ugle-Hagan had a couple of opportunities plucked from under his nose, as teammates drifted in front of his leads or were seen to have been obstructed.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the game, but Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton regularly got in each other\u2019s way, as they led to the same area or contested a forward entry.<\/p>\n With time, they will understand each other\u2019s patterns, stretch deep and compact defences, and isolate dominant key defenders like Jacob Weitering, Jake Lever and Aliir Aliir.<\/p>\n \u201cI like to give kids a four-week block,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n \u201cBring them in and leave them there for four weeks, and if it hasn\u2019t worked out, you\u2019ve got a great base to learn from.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going to bring them in for one and then drop them, you can rattle them, you can lose them for two months.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought he did some really clever things, and the guy is still learning.\u201d<\/p>\n It is often overlooked that Ugle-Hagan is only weeks into his second season at the Kennel, after he lost his under 18 campaign to the 2020 lockdowns.<\/p>\n In the most difficult position to play, at a team with multiple established tall forwards and which surged to a grand final in his first season, he has been held to a higher account than necessary.<\/p>\n Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins booted just 21 and 27 goals in his fourth and fifth seasons, respectively; in the 10 completed seasons since, he has never kicked fewer than 46.<\/p>\n Carlton\u2019s Harry McKay, who booted four goals on Thursday night, grappled with his body and the rigours of the elite level before he broke out with a league-leading 58 last season.<\/p>\n By contrast, Lance Franklin ran up 73 in his third season and 113 in his fourth, while somehow-maligned St Kilda forward Max King has barely missed a beat with 60 over his first two seasons.<\/p>\n \u201cGuys like Franklin and King\u2026 they\u2019ve made it really difficult for these young forwards coming in,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to go bang straight away. The bar is too high.\u201d<\/p>\n Ugle-Hagan and the Dogs will next face Franklin, to whom he has often been compared, and the Sydney Swans next Thursday night at Marvel Stadium.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n