By Andrew Wu
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan grew up idolising Lance Franklin. On Friday night, the No.1 draft pick gets the chance to emulate his childhood hero by stamping himself on the big stage.
If the Western Bulldogs are to progress deep into the finals, Ugle-Hagan and another rising star in Sam Darcy must play significant roles. It is a lot to place on the still-broadening shoulders of young players, but reputations are made in September.
Bulldogs young guns Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy get their chance to come of age in the finals.Credit: AFL Photos
The peerless Franklin came of age in his finals debut as a 20-year-old in just his third season. He booted eight goals, including a famous winner from long range, as Hawthorn sunk Adelaide in 2007.
Ugle-Hagan had little impact in his first final, but that came in just his second year when he was a young pup still learning how to match it against the big dogs.
Two years on, the 22-year-old has not only proven he can be a home-and-away game-breaker but also narrowed the gap between his best and worst. His four goals and nine coaches’ votes against All-Australian full-back Jacob Weitering in round 19 showed he can beat the best.
Hawthorn’s weakest third is their defence, a point they have acknowledged by their interest in Tom Barrass from West Coast and Josh Battle from St Kilda.
And the Dogs have a major point of difference to their seven September rivals in that they have three genuine marking threats inside their forward 50: Ugle-Hagan, Darcy and Aaron Naughton, the most senior of the trio at 24.
Worryingly for Hawthorn, who will be relying on James Sicily, Sam Frost and Jack Scrimshaw to play as undersized backs, Darcy and Ugle-Hagan rank equal second and eighth respectively for contested marks this season.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is not asking for Ugle-Hagan and Darcy to be the match winners. He would happily settle for the pair to keep the Hawthorn defence honest and prevent Sam Mitchell’s band of fleet-footed runners from cutting them apart off half-back.
“Number one on defensive aggregate, those big forwards, believe it or not, it’s quite critical to that aspect of the game as well, and part of that is just competing in the air and controlling the ball at ground level and making sure that if the opposition get out that they’re under a bit of pressure,” Beveridge said.
“We’ll nudge them to make sure that’s a priority in their game. And hopefully, they get some spoils, hopefully they hit the scoreboard, and hopefully they create a few others.”
Like Franklin, who fed off the energy from the crowd, Ugle-Hagan enjoys the interaction with the fans.
“Hopefully, it energises everyone,” Beveridge said. “I’m talking about priorities, but the flashy things and the fancy things, the roses on the trees, you know that they’ll happen if all the other stuff is taken care of. Marra knows that.
“He’s a hard body, Jamarra. His contest work, he commits, he knocks them over, and he’s strong in what he does. That’ll be his starting point.”
The Dogs were given a boost with star midfielder Adam Treloar getting through training showing no signs of the calf niggle from round 24.
Speedster Laitham Vandermeer (hamstring) also completed training, as did Rhylee West, who will push hard for a recall from a fractured jaw, though Beveridge foreshadowed minimal changes to the side that booked a finals berth with victory over Greater Western Sydney.
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