Jamarra Ugle-Hagan

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
Personal information
Full name Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
Nickname(s) 'Marra, JU-H
Date of birth (2002-04-04) 4 April 2002 (age 22)
Original team(s) Oakleigh Chargers (NAB League)/South Warrnambool Football Club
Draft No. 1, 2020 national draft
Debut 11 July 2021, Western Bulldogs vs. Sydney Swans, at Marvel Stadium
Height 197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 91 kg (201 lb)
Position(s) Full-Forward
Club information
Current club Western Bulldogs
Number 2
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2021– Western Bulldogs 67 (103)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (born 4 April 2002) is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life and education

Ugle-Hagan was born in Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve in south-west Victoria into a family of Indigenous Australian (Noongar-Gunditjmara-Djab Wurrun) descent.[1][2] He attended secondary school at Warrnambool College, before moving to Scotch College as a boarder in year 9.[3]

Early career

He first played for East Warrnambool and South Warrnambool at a community football level,[4] before progressing to Oakleigh Chargers in the NAB League.[5]

AFL career

Rise: 2021–2022

He was a member of the Western Bulldogs' Next Generation Academy,[6] which helps scout and develop Aboriginal and multicultural players, and people who would not otherwise play the sport of Australian rules football.[7]

Ugle-Hagan was taken at Pick 1 in the 2020 national draft, when the Western Bulldogs matched the Adelaide Crows' bid.[8][6] He is the first Bulldogs No.1 Draft Pick since Adam Cooney in 2003, and only the second Indigenous player to be taken with the first selection since Des Headland in 1998.[9]

Ugle-Hagan played his first AFL game for the Western Bulldogs on 11 July 2021 in their Round 17 loss to the Sydney Swans.[10] On debut, Ugle-Hagan collected seven disposals and one mark.[11] Despite staying goalless, Ugle-Hagan was kept in the team for round 18, where he kicked three goals in a strong performance against the Gold Coast Suns.[12] On 5 August 2021, it was revealed that Ugle-Hagan signed on with the Bulldogs until the end of 2024.[13][14]

Ugle-Hagan received a Rising Star nomination for his five-goal performance against Melbourne during round 19 in 2022.[15][6]

Breakout: 2023

In Round 2 of the 2023 AFL season, Ugle-Hagan received a racist remark from a St Kilda supporter when walking off the field at the end of the game. The next week in their game against the Brisbane Lions, Ugle-Hagan kicked five goals in a low scoring and tight game. As a celebration of one of his five goals he lifted his shirt and pointed to his skin whilst looking at the crowd, emulating Nicky Winmar's iconic gesture under similar circumstances in a 1993 game.[16][17] This started some career best form for the young dog with a 3 goal performance in Round 11 against Gold Coast, a 4 goal performance alongside 12 disposals in Round 16 versing Fremantle and 2 goals with 13 disposals the week after facing Collingwood. Ugle-Hagan had a breakout year in 2023 playing every game possible for the Western Bulldogs and finishing 2nd in their leading goalkicker tally with 35 goals.

Leading Goalkicker: 2024

Ugle-Hagan had a good year in 2024 playing 22 games and kicking 43 goals to place him as the leading goal kicker for the Western Bulldogs for the season. Ugle-Hagan captured brilliant patch of form from rounds 18 to 20 in which he kicked 12 goals from 3 games. In round 21, against Melbourne, he could of gone big on the score sheet however he didn't have his kicking boots on and managed 2 goals and 6 behinds throughout the match.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2024.

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2021 Western Bulldogs 22 5 7 2 25 10 35 14 8 1.4 0.4 5.0 2.0 7.0 2.8 1.6 0
2022 Western Bulldogs 2 17 18 16 100 34 134 60 18 1.0 0.9 5.8 2.0 7.8 3.5 1.0 2
2023 Western Bulldogs 2 23 35 35 188 73 261 120 22 1.5 1.5 8.1 3.2 11.3 5.2 0.9 5
2024 Western Bulldogs 2 22 43 35 187 64 251 96 32 2.0 1.6 8.5 2.9 11.4 4.4 1.5
Career 67 103 88 500 181 681 290 80 1.5 1.3 7.5 2.7 10.2 4.3 1.2 7

Honours and achievements

Individual

References

  1. ^ Miles, Daniel (30 November 2020). "Framlingham teen Jamarra Ugle-Hagan out to inspire next generation of Indigenous youth on eve of AFL draft". ABC South West Victoria. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  2. ^ "AFL Players' Indigenous Map 2021" (PDF). AFL Players Association. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Possible No.1 AFL draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is being compared to Buddy - and he's not shying away". Fox Sports Australia. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  4. ^ McCullagh-Beasy, Justine (9 December 2020). "Jamarra is AFL draft's No.1, proud Framlingham community celebrates". The Senior. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  5. ^ McCullagh-Beasy, Justine (9 October 2020). "Draft diamond: Why Jamarra is rated No.1". The Standard.
  6. ^ a b c "Jamarra Ugle-Hagan". Western Bulldogs.
  7. ^ "Next Generation Academy". Western Bulldogs.
  8. ^ "Academy bids dominate marathon AFL draft as Jamarra Ugle-Hagan taken first". the Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Indigenous star prospect Jamarra Ugle-Hagan goes to Bulldogs with pick one in AFL Draft". www.abc.net.au. 9 December 2020.
  10. ^ "How silky Swans cut another rival to shreds; Dog of a day opens up top four: 3-2-1". Fox Sports (Australia). 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  11. ^ Healy, Jonathan (11 July 2021). "Super Swans knock Dogs off top spot with another top-four scalp". AFL Media. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  12. ^ Whiting, Michael (17 July 2021). "Top Dogs bite back as 'Marra' finds his feet". AFL Media. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Locked in: Two more years for Dogs' No.1 pick". AFL Media. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Two more for Ugle-Hagan". westernbulldogs.com.au. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Dogs' match-winner the latest Rising Star nominee". afl.com.au.
  16. ^ "AFL star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan responds to racist abuse with iconic gesture". BBC News. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  17. ^ Yussuf, Ahmed (17 April 2023). "With fresh allegations of racism targeted at Indigenous players, Winmar's protest echoes to a new generation". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 18 April 2023.