Number one draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan already loves the Western Bulldogs.
The Next Generation Academy product was last night snapped up with pick 1 in the National Draft after the Bulldogs matched Adelaide’s bid for the talented forward.
Ugle-Hagan, who grew up a Bombers fan, always knew he would end up at the Whitten Oval and is now thrilled to officially refer to himself a Dogs player having already experienced the culture of the club during his time as an academy prospect.
“As soon as I walked in the door on the first day when I went there, I had Jason Johannisen come up and introduce himself,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“I expected that the boys were going to be like ‘top dogs’ and stuff, but obviously they’re good blokes in general.
“As soon as you walk in the club, everyone gets to you, even staff.
“I was an Essendon supporter for 17 years, then I walk into the Bulldogs for two weeks, and as soon as I left I’m saying to my parents, ‘bloody hell, I want to go for this club’.
“They’re just that nice. They’re a good club.”
From just outside Warrnambool via Scotch College and the Oakleigh Chargers, Ugle-Hagan has already been on the receiving end of some Bulldogs hospitality.
Without a pair of jeans, he called on the assistance of club captain Marcus Bontempelli to deck him out for the big day.
“I finished up at Scotch College as a boarder, so I moved everything back home,” he explained.
“Everything was at home and the first person I messaged was ‘Bont’. We’re similar height and same shoe size so I thought we’d be the same size pants.
“I messaged him and he said, ‘Come around at 1 o’clock, I’ll give them to you’. I was like, ‘Unreal, I’ll see you soon’.
“Then I went and borrowed his pants.”
Asked if Bontempelli offered up his best set of trousers, Ugle-Hagan felt perhaps the Doggies skipper was keeping his highest quality garb from the club’s newest star-in-the-making.
“I reckon he had better pants to be honest but I can’t complain, he looked after me,” he laughed.
"The first person I messaged was Bont."
— Garry and Tim (@SENBreakfast) December 9, 2020
But why, Jamarra? 👖 #AFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Ov1CZVLYYL
Despite knowing what would eventuate on draft night, Ugle-Hagan admits he was a bundle of nerves beforehand.
“I didn’t expect anything,” he said further.
“I got out of the car with (manager) Robbie (D’Orazio), obviously I was still nervous, I was nearly about to spew.
“I don’t know why. The position I was in, I knew I was going to Footscray, but it was hard to sink in.
“I was nervous before my name got read out but I had my family and mates down at the pub which was unreal.”