Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has made a strong stand in opposition to racism and fired in assault to guide the Western Bulldogs to a tense 14-point win over Brisbane.
Ugle-Hagan lifted his jumper and pointed to his pores and skin, recreating Nicky Winmar’s iconic gesture, after the primary of his 5 objectives within the 10.7 (67) to 7.11 (53) triumph at Marvel Stadium.
The dour victory was the Bulldogs’ first of the season following a horror opening fortnight that had introduced an intense highlight on coach Luke Beveridge.
Josh Dunkley (23 disposals) was one of many Lions’ greatest and was jeered all evening by Bulldogs followers in his first encounter along with his former membership since forcing an low season commerce transfer.
But Ugle-Hagan’s impassioned message was the foremost speaking level as he responded sensationally to racist feedback directed at him on the identical venue simply 5 days earlier.
The 20-year-old Indigenous star slotted the opening purpose of the evening with a curling effort from the ahead pocket and turned to the gang, repeating Winmar’s well-known “I’m black and I’m proud” gesture.
It got here virtually 30 years to the day since Winmar’s celebrated stance at Victoria Park in April 1993.
“I wanted to make a stand and show my presence,” Ugle-Hagan instructed the Seven Network.
“Obviously what happened last weekend was a pretty hard time, just going out there and proving the point.
“I’m only a boy attempting to play some soccer, so are the opposite Indigenous boys.”
Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (28 disposals, seven clearances) was best afield, willing his team to victory, with fellow midfielders Tom Liberatore (29, three) and Jack Macrae (30, three) also influential in the much-needed win.
Bontempelli (16) had more contested possessions than anyone else on the ground.
Rory Lobb kicked two goals from just four disposals and was substituted out during a tight final quarter in his first game back after ankle surgery.
Lachie Neale (31 disposals, eight clearances), young star Will Ashcroft (23, four) and Dunkley were all busy for Brisbane.
Ugle-Hagan raised the bar on his opening goal with a second from an even tougher angle in the opposite pocket.
It came from a free kick as three straight Bulldogs majors in the second term gave them an eight-point lead at the main break.
Jack Gunston kicked all three of his goals in the third quarter alone to keep the Lions within striking distance.
The final quarter was a struggle and two 50m penalties against Riley Garcia looked as though they could cost the Bulldogs.
The second led to an Eric Hipwood goal that cut the margin to two points.
But the Bulldogs steadied through Bailey Williams, set up by Bontempelli’s hard-ball win and a towering Aaron Naughton mark, and resisted the Lions’ last-ditch efforts in the final minutes.
FIttingly, the match completed with the ball in Ugle-Hagan’s palms and he equalled a career-best tally when he kicked his fifth main after the siren.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
