JAMARRA Ugle-Hagan was the star of the show as the Western Bulldogs secured their first win of the season on last Thursday night.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old booted five goals in a match-winning performance for the Dogs who scrapped their way over the Brisbane Lions by 14 points at Marvel Stadium.<\/p>\n
It was a tough week for Ugle-Hagan after he was the subject of racial vilification at the St Kilda game last weekend.<\/p>\n
The former number one draft pick kicked the first goal of the night and reminiscent of iconic Indigenous star Nicky Winmar in 1993, lifted his footy jumper and pointed to his skin.<\/p>\n
Teammate, Caleb Daniel, spoke of his pride at seeing the talented youngster stand up so strongly after a difficult period.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so happy for \u2018Marra\u2019 to kick five after the week that he\u2019s had,\u201d Daniel said on SEN\u2019s AFL Nation coverage. \u201cIt\u2019s been unbelievable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was obviously something you never want to be a part of. There\u2019s no place for racism in general, in sport, in life.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor him, we just throw our arms around him. We\u2019re going to support him throughout his whole football journey, his life journey as well<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was so amazing to see. It gives me tingles now thinking about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so incredibly proud of him to come in and play the way that he did, but the way that he held himself this week was nothing short of superior.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ugle-Hagan spoke impressively at the post-match press conference alongside coach Luke Beveridge.<\/p>\n
He said he didn\u2019t pre-plan the Winmar celebration but is now hoping his stance against racism has a major impact for years to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it was coming up to 30 years since Nicky Winmar did that, but it just came in the moment. I didn\u2019t know I was going to kick a goal tonight, so the celebration just came with it,\u201d Ugle-Hagan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt pretty proud going out there with all my mates that supported me through a tough week.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then to do that in front of everyone, hopefully it makes a stance and a moment. Hopefully people will look back on it 30 years from now and say then that nothing\u2019s happened since.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully nobody [else] cops anything that I\u2019ve been through.\u201d<\/p>\n
It certainly was a memorable moment from a young man who simply shouldn\u2019t have to deal with racial abuse.<\/p>\n
Ugle-Hagan and the Dogs will look to make it two in a row when they meet Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.<\/p>\n