Former South forward stars as Dogs break duck
SOUTH Warrnambool product Jamarra Ugle-Hagan produced a statement game following a torrid week off-field last weekend.
The 21 year-old, who was subjected to racial abuse during his club’s loss to St Kilda, responded emphatically, kicking five goals to guide the Western Bulldogs to their first win of the year.
He kicked the opening and final goals in the Dogs 14 point triumph, with Ugle-Hagan also collecting nine possessions in a strong display across half forward.
Fellow South export Hugh McCluggage was a part of the Lions side, with the midfielder collecting 19 touches (11 contested) as well as four clearances and six inside 50s.
Ex-Portland ruckman Rowan Marshall was instrumental in St Kilda’s 18 point win over Essendon.
The 27 year-old enjoyed a strong battle with Bomber Sam Draper in the ruck, but managed to get busy around the ground as he clunked four contested marks in his 19 disposal outing.
Cobden product Zach Merrett was prolific in the loss for the Bombers, with the skipper laying seven tackles and kicking six inside 50s from 25 touches.
Fellow Cobden export Sean Darcy produced a huge performance in Fremantle’s Western Derby victory over the West Coast Eagles.
The Dockers big man kicked 1.2 from 20 touches but was absolutely dominant around the stoppages as he won 52 hit-outs and had five clearances.
Portland’s Jamaine Jones featured for the wounded Eagles, with the winger a little quieter than the week prior in a 14 disposal outing.
Koroit product Willem Drew was one of Port Adelaide’s better players in the Power’s 31 point showdown loss to Adelaide.
The midfielder finished with 18 touches and 10 tackles as well as five clearances in his best game of the season thus far.
Cobden pair Gary Rohan and Ben Cunnington were apart of the beaten brigade last weekend, with Rohan’s Cats going down to Gold Coast and Cunnington’s Kangaroos falling to Hawthorn.
Rohan managed two goals from six touches for Geelong, while Cunnington collected 21 possessions and seven clearances for North Melbourne.
Former North Warrnambool product Josh Corbett and Cobden’s Sam Walsh were the only two Hampden exports to not feature at AFL level.
Corbett enjoyed a week’s break as the WAFL season is yet to start, while Walsh is still an absentee from the Blues line-up as he recovers from off-season surgery.
