Ugle-Hagan has earned an extended run

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.

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.

The tallest of the Dogs’ six forwards at 197-centermeaters, Ugle-Hagan couldn’t be left to run around; he commanded the close attention of Oscar McDonald and later Lachie Plowman.

He ran hard to pull the Blues’ back six around, on a few occasions beat his opponent to the ball by several paces, and regularly brought the ball to ground.

“I think you persist with Ugle-Hagan, don’t you?” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“I thought he was more competitive… I didn’t think he was pushed off the ball or pushed under it like he has been.

“There 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.

“I’d just play him now. What better have you got as a second target than Ugle-Hagan, with Marcus Bontempelli floating through there?”

The chemistry piece should also be a consideration for the Dogs, not just the Next Generation Academy graduate’s development curve.

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.

That’s the game, but Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton regularly got in each other’s way, as they led to the same area or contested a forward entry.

With time, they will understand each other’s patterns, stretch deep and compact defences, and isolate dominant key defenders like Jacob Weitering, Jake Lever and Aliir Aliir.

“I like to give kids a four-week block,” King said.

“Bring them in and leave them there for four weeks, and if it hasn’t worked out, you’ve got a great base to learn from.

“If you’re going to bring them in for one and then drop them, you can rattle them, you can lose them for two months.

“I thought he did some really clever things, and the guy is still learning.”

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.

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.

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.

Carlton’s 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.

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.

“Guys like Franklin and King… they’ve made it really difficult for these young forwards coming in,” King said.

“You’ve got to go bang straight away. The bar is too high.”

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.

 

– BY NATHAN JOHN/ SEN