Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s highly effective stand in opposition to racism, plus 5 targets have guided the Dogs to their first win of the season, beating Brisbane by 14 factors on Thursday night time.
Western Bulldogs’ ahead Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has made a robust stand in opposition to the racism he obtained final weekend, re-creating Nicky Winmar’s ‘I’m proud’ gesture.
Ugle-Hagan, 20, pulled up his jumper and pointed to his pores and skin after slotting the primary objective of the sport in a superb and memorable response to the horrific abuse which was directed at him on-field and on-line final Saturday night time.
It was a repeat of Winmar’s well-known stand the place the St Kilda nice made arguably essentially the most important declaration in opposition to racism within the sport’s historical past after a match in opposition to Collingwood on April 17, 1993 at Victoria Park.
Ugle-Hagan’s household had been horrified by the abuse he copped, however the primary draft choose fired on Thursday night time, producing among the finest performances of his 25-game profession with 5 targets within the 14-point win over Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium.
The Dogs hope the tense victory will assist reignite their season after a pair of losses to begin the 2023 marketing campaign heaped stress on the membership and its coach Luke Beveridge.
Ugle-Hagan’s gesture comes solely two weeks out from the thirtieth anniversary celebration of Winmar’s stand which has been lauded for serving to flip the tide in opposition to racism in soccer.
Ugle-Hagan was given time away from the membership on Monday to assist cope with the racist abuse he obtained within the loss to St Kilda. The racism was condemned by each golf equipment.
But the person from Framlingham, in western Victoria, responded in emphatic vogue in assault beneath the roof, and was one of many Bulldogs’ greatest gamers alongside inspirational captain Marcus Bontempelli.
Bulldogs’ director Luke Darcy mentioned the Winmar gesture was a beautiful second from Ugle-Hagan after a difficult week for the third-year objective kicker.
“It is a beautiful image,” Darcy mentioned on Triple M.
“It has been 30 years since that incredible (Winmar) moment.
“It is tragic we still have to deal with these things at the footy, and it has been an emotional week for him when you see what it does to family and loved ones.
“It is disgraceful and horrific.
“But the young man handled himself beautifully this week.”
Ugle-Hagan nailed the primary objective of the sport in opposition to the Lions at Marvel Stadium after capitalising on some wonderful defensive work from debutant Arthur Jones.
Jones, one other proud indigenous man, tackled Cameron Rayner to arrange the Ugle-Hagan main which helped ignite the Dogs after a troublesome week of intense scrutiny on the membership for his or her 0-2 begin to the season.
But it was the Winmar gesture which will probably be seen across the nation and applauded throughout the league as Ugle-Hagan defiantly confirmed he wouldn’t be intimidated or silenced by the racism.
Ugle-Hagan, who was swamped by teammates on the bottom after the objective, added a second main early within the second time period with a tight-angled snap.
He bagged his third after a powerful mark deep in assault and had 4 of the Dogs’ eight targets halfway via the third time period after a free-kick off the ball.
His fifth-goal, which equalled his career-best, was hammered dwelling after the siren. The Dogs will try and stage their season with their second victory in opposition to Richmond on the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Ugle-Hagan mentioned he wished to make a stand, however had not pre-planned the transfer.
“I knew it was 30 years since Nicky Winmar did that, but it just came in the moment. I didn’t know I was going to kick a goal tonight. The celebration just came with the game,” Ugle-Hagan mentioned.
“I felt pretty proud going out there with all my mates who supported me through a tough week.
“To do that in front of everyone hopefully it makes a stance and hopefully people look back at it 30 years from now and say nothing (racism) has happened since.
“Hopefully no one cops anything I have been through.”
Ugle-Hagan mentioned racism cuts deep.
“Players are getting sick of it, we are making a stance and we are calling it out and pointing it out and sorting them out,” he mentioned.
“Those comments definitely hurt you as an individual.
“You get 100 compliments but one bad comment and you remember the bad comment.
He said his mother was incredibly proud and that it was hard to keep his emotions in check after booting his fifth goal after the siren.
“I did get a bit emotional, especially when all the boys ran over to me, it was a special moment. Not because I kicked five but obviously the week I have had,” he mentioned.
“That moment out there was a bit emotional because they love me and it is so easy to see.
“She’s a proud mum.
“She has looked after me since I was a young boy, I have got four younger brothers underneath me.
“No one wants that to happen to any of their children.”
Luke Beveridge mentioned he was “unbelievably proud” of his ahead.
“I know how strong he is as a young fella, but as a young First Nations lad from down the district, Framlingham, he is made of some pretty stern stuff,” Beveridge mentioned.
“To see him play so well in such tough circumstances is so uplifting.
“When you consider our connections and our love and respect for our indigenous brothers and sisters, I think at some point in time in the future we have got to dance with them rather than the prejudice which creeps in now and then.
“There is such a connection (in New Zealand with the Maoris and Polynesians) and we haven’t established that yet.
“It is a reminder we still have a long way to go.”
The AFL might tackle considerations over the turf after floor employees had been required to try to mend a patch of grass which may very well be lifted up.
Marvel Stadium hosted a Harry Styles live performance within the pre-season, which required restore work earlier than Round 1.
Brisbane Lions’ speedster Charlie Cameron appeared hobbled by a groin criticism all through the night time, whereas Rory Lobb was substituted out of the sport within the final time period in his return from ankle surgical procedure.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan coached from the bench within the tense first time period after spending the primary two video games up within the coaches’ field.
BULLDOGS SPOIL DUNKLEY’S RETURN TO NOTCH FIRST WIN OF 2023
—Nick Smart
There was a blackout on the Gabba final week however the Western Bulldogs proved it’s removed from lights out for them this 12 months after kickstarting their season on Thursday night time.
The Bulldogs put a dismal 0-2 begin to the season behind them to upstage the fancied Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium, 10.7 (67) to 7.11 (53).
Savaged by the media all week following two consecutive 50-point drubbings within the opening two rounds, the Bulldogs responded.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was the star for the Dogs, bouncing again from a racial assault from a fan final weekend to be the matchwinner with 5 targets.
His final objective was got here on the ultimate siren, to the delight of his teammates.
Skipper Marcus Bontempelli was greatest on floor with 28 disposals and 16 contested possessions.
It was a disappointing night time for the Lions, whose ahead line struggled aside from Jack Gunston and Charlie Cameron.
Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale was Brisbane’s greatest with 31 disposals.
DUNKLEY RISES ABOVES THE BOOS
Former Bulldog Josh Dunkley was at all times going to be booed mercilessly by the Bulldogs devoted each time he touched the Sherrin.
Early on, it appeared like many Dogs followers would wish a lozenges for a sore throat by the sport’s finish.
Against his former membership, the 2016 premiership participant began beautifully with 9 disposals to quarter-time.
He completed with 23 disposals in a strong efficiency, however the Dogs obtained the final giggle.
TURF TIME STRIKES AGAIN
Just a few weeks in the past it was the Ed Sheeran live performance on the MCG that was mentioned to trigger turf points within the opening spherical of the season.
Now it was Marvel Stadium’s activate Thursday night time.
The Docklands venue has historically had turf considerations every so often ever since opening in 2000, and Lion Jarrod Berry made his emotions identified on the state of the floor on Thursday night time.
During the second time period, after freely giving a free kick, Berry was standing the mark as he identified to an umpire he may raise up an entire chunk of turf out of the bottom.
Running repairs had been performed at half time, and fortunately each groups appeared to flee any accidents because of the floor.
The venue hosted a Socceroos and Ecuador soccer match the earlier night time and a few markings from the match had been nonetheless evident on Thursday night time.
A REAL SON OF A GUN
The son of Lions nice Marcus Ashcroft continues to show he must be a famous person in brief time.
It was a tough begin to the match for Will Ashcroft when was nailed by Ed Richards when it appeared like he was about to kick the opening objective.
He was caught napping, however rapidly settled in his third AFL sport and had 23 touches.
MARRA HITS BACK
After an emotional week following the stunning racial abuse he copped final weekend, it was becoming that Ugle-Hagan kicked the opening objective on Thursday night time.
On Wednesday, Ugle-Hagan introduced teammate and debutant Arthur Jones along with his jumper and informed him to “go out and have fun.”
He actually did that when his first motion in AFL soccer led to Ugle-Hagan’s objective when he pressured a turnover on the wing with some frenetic stress.
Western Bulldogs 1.2 (8), 4.3 (27), 8.4 (52), 10.7 (67)
Brisbane Lions 1.3 (9), 2.7 (19), 6.8 (44), 7.11 (53)
GOALS
Bulldogs- Ugle-Hagan 5, Lobb 2, Baker, Naughton, Williams
Lions- Gunston 3, Neale, Cameron, Rayner, Hipwood
BEST
Bulldogs- Bontempelli, Ugle-Hagan, Macrae, Liberatore, Richards, Bruce, Treloar,
Lions- Neale, Gunston, Ashcroft, Andrews
NICK SMART’S VOTES
3- Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
2- Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (WB)
1- Lachie Neale (WB)
Originally printed as AFL 2023: All the information from Western Bulldogs vs Brisbane Lions
