Western Bulldogs coach's blunt take on troubled star's future
The 23-year-old hasn't played since the 2024 elimination final and has spent considerable time away from the club this season.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
The forward returned to the club in June after a prolonged absence that included a 30-day stay at a wellness retreat as he addressed off-field issues.
Despite his return, Ugle-Hagan missed more training sessions as he dealt with family issues. It was that fresh setback that left Lade stating the forward would be lucky to crack into the VFL side.
' (Ugle-Hagan) still rocks up (to training) … he's had a few things going on with his family the last week or so – we haven't seen him as much the last couple of weeks,' Lade told 3AW on Sunday.
'Prior to that though, he was at every session and really putting his name up to play in the VFL and hopefully get back to some good footy before the year's end.
'But at the moment, he's probably put himself back a couple more weeks, and the way the VFL (team) is playing at the moment, he might be lucky to get a game.'
The comments from the Dogs assistant coach caused a divide with North premiership player David King and Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes.
'There's levels you can go to as an assistant coach and I think this is outside the brief,' King said on SEN's Fireball.
'I'm not sure that's what you want. I'm not sure you'd want your assistant coach saying, 'I'm not sure he'd get a game'.
'They've thrown everything around this guy to support him. The last thing (you'd say).'
Cornes however felt differently to King and backed up the remarks which sparked a debate between the pair.
Cornes: 'Maybe they've had enough?'
King: 'Just have enough privately. You don't air that.'
Cornes: 'I liked it.'
King: 'Oh, you did not.'
Cornes: 'Maybe they're just sick of it. Maybe they've tried everything and now they've almost got to get to the point of humiliation to actually realise…'
King: 'He's not going to be there, so what's the point of clipping him in Round 22? Just let it slide, man.
'I don't think that is part of the assistant coach's brief. It's a bad reflection.'
Cornes: 'He's usually a big supporter of players, he's a champion of players and listening to that I think he's had enough.'
King: 'I don't care what he is or what he was, right now he got that wrong.
'Stay in your lane, Ladey.'
King: 'No! Not his job. If 'Bevo' said it, no problem. If someone up the chain of the C-suite said it, no problem at all.
'Not an assistant coach's job. Just stay in your lane.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
23 minutes ago
- News.com.au
NRL Round 24 teams and SuperCoach Q&A: Will you be ditching Drinkwater?
There are four rounds to go which means many overall players are down to their last trades (or like me have none!), but for the head-to-head studs this is their time to shine. I'm a bit under the weather and so as a treat to you and me both I'll be keeping the Buy/Sell analysis brief and instead put the work into the Q&A (as always, hit me up via the comments section at the bottom of the article and we can talk trades, team line-ups, captaincy options (and for Dave I can deny his plea to make the bye team visible on SC landing page). Scott Drinkwater: Has fallen away of late. Reportedly dealing with a groin injury, has lost the goalkicking and the Cowboys attack spluttering. The Cows have a round 27 bye too so if you have the trade spare I'd be selling. If you don't (like me) then you'll have to hope that a home match against the Knights then away against the Tigers can see some half decent scores over the next fortnight. I'm not so sure, and if injuries/suspensions elsewhere in my squad allow I'm tempted to make Drinky a NPR. SELL. Cameron Munster: With no Jahrome Hughes to overcall him it's the Cam Munster show at the Storm for the remainder of the regular season. Scored 92 against the Broncos last week - though that was a Brisbane outfit with three of their key backline players riding the pine after tearing their hamstrings. The Panthers then Bulldogs over the next fortnight will prove a stiffer test of Munster's worth. Still a BUY, but I'm expecting scores in the 60-70 range against those two teams not 80+. Harry Grant: Taking a more dominant role in attack with Hughes out is a win, though it does mean less tackless Melbourne look to hide Grant a little on the defensive side when they know they need more from him in attack. As per Munster above, I expect the next fortnight to be tougher scoring for the Storm spine - but still have Grant as a BUY. Sam Walker: Looking to ditch Drinky and have a spot at flex to fill? Sam Walker could be your guy. After returns of 50 and 66 in his first fortnight back following his 2024 ACL injury, Walker has punched out scores of 80 (Storm), 93 (Manly) and 119 (Dolphins). The little maestro is calling all the shots at the Roosters and while the remaining draw is mixed (Dogs, Eels, Storm, Souths) he's shown he can score against anyone. BUY. Beau Fermor: Last week I suggested that Fermor may be the safest CTW option around for those looking for a Herbie Farnworth replacement and he duly delivered 78 points (50 in base, plus a try/LB). The Gold Coast have arguably the most productive draw remaining for any team (Sharks/Warriors/Dolphins/Tigers) and it would not shock if Fermor manages to score in at least two of those match-ups. BUY. Mark Nawaqanitawase: After a very quiet four weeks Marky Mark bounced back with a hat-trick against the Dolphins last round. The Dogs this week, and Storm in round 26 are not games I'd expect him to go large in. But the Eels in round 25 and Souths in round 27 look juicy. A BUY, but the guy above (safer) and below (due) are preferred. Brian To'o: Is Bizza back? Seemingly banged up and carrying leg niggles all season, To'o made 17 runs and busted nine tackles (and three linebreaks plus a try) as a ruthless Panthers dominated the Knights. The Storm this week will be tougher. The Raiders then Dogs the fortnight after no easier. But no team is hotter than the Panthers at the moment. And if To'o is fit and healthy then he's a steal at $517K. Under 12% ownership makes him a useful H2H POD too. BUY. That's it, I've run out of steam, hit me up via the comments and we can chat.
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
AFL players brutally mocked over 93-day holiday break: ‘It is a joke'
AFL players — and the Sydney Swans in particular — are being ridiculed for the amount time off they are afforded over the off-season. Expert Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes is perplexed by the amount time professional players have away from the club, and could not believe his ear when he heard Swans coach Dean Cox reveal his return-to-train dates for his players. After an underwhelming season cruelled by injury, Cox said the first-to-fourth-year players would be back on November 10 and senior players would fire up their pre-season on November 24. 'So, you know, for the younger players they'll get five weeks pre-Christmas,' Cox said. 'Throughout that, they'll be expected to come back extremely fit and in really good condition and ready to attack a full pre-season.' On Channel 7's The Agenda Setters on Monday night, AFL great Nick Riewoldt said 'AFL footy will remain a part-time job in 2026' with players being afforded such a generous vacation time. Cornes said it was a 'joke'. 'Their (Sydney's) last game is on August 23,' Cornes said on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters. 'Their senior players are back on November 24. 'That is a 93-day break for our AFL players and you are telling me these are full-time players. 'It is a joke and no wonder the skill level (is questionable and) injuries are high. It's for that reason. '(AFL players) get far too much time off (and) that's not including Christmas.' Cornes has been hot on the topic (of the amount time off players have) for many years, and believes AFL coaches do not get enough time to spend with their players ahead of the season proper. He also believes the extended time-off contributed to a spate of injuries that happened to senior players at the start of this year. 'It's been one of my biggest frustrations for a long time,' Cornes said on SEN earlier this year. 'I actually have been writing about this for seven years. 'Players get far too much time off and the lack of preparation is leading to this significant spate of injuries.' Cornes said back then the AFL Players' Association had 'far too much power in the game' and things needed to change. 'Who is going to stand up to them?,' he asked. 'If you're wondering why everyone is getting injured and why it's never been worse, this is why.' Annual leave for most Australians is a four-week period, while those who are required to work on public holidays typically receive a six-week break.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Japan's Group 1 weapon Panja Tower poised to head to Australia for $10 million Golden Eagle
Japanese star Panja Tower has been confirmed as the latest foreign raider set for a $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) assault at Royal Randwick this year. Trainer Shinsuke Hashigushi has put Australia's coveted four-year-old feature in his crosshairs as he attempts to replicate the success of fellow Japanese raider Obamburumai in 2023. Obamburumai gave Japan its first victory in the Golden Eagle two years ago when scoring under the urging of Australian-based jockey Josh Parr. Panja Tower is a winner of three of her five career starts to date and has twice one in stakes grade, including the Group 1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo on May 11. Price assessors at TAB quickly installed Panja Tower as an $11 chance on the same line of betting as Aeliana, Evaporate, Linebacker and Treasurethe Moment. 'His trainer, Mr Hashiguchi, when he won the NHK Mile, the first thing he said in his winning interview was that he would send this horse to the Golden Eagle,' Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani told Sky Racing radio. 'That horse is now locked in to travel to Sydney for the race.' G1 3yo NHK Mile at Tokyo: Won in a thriller by 3c 11. PANJA TOWER (Tower of London x Clarksdale (Victoire Pisa)) under Kohei Matsuyama 2nd MAGIC SAND x Yutaka Take 3rd filly CERBIATTO x Michael Dee 🇳🇿 1.31.7 for the Mile #JRA — Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) May 11, 2025 • 'Could be anything this season': Legendary hoops pick their spring stars Japan has representation in last year's Golden Eagle with favourite Ascoli Piceno (12th) failing to perform as expected while Corazon Beat finished last. But the international trend continued in the feature with English galloper Lake Forest edging out French talent Lazzat in an incident-charged edition of the race. It is hoped that multiple European gallopers head to Australia again for the four-year-old feature, including recent Thoroughbred Stakes victor Seagulls Eleven. Seagulls Eleven, which is raced by members of the Premier League's Brighton Hove Albion, is a $26 chance in betting. A win for the seagulls! 🰽 Seagulls Eleven, owned by some @OfficialBHAFC players, wins a messy edition of the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes for team @hpalmerracing and @themichaelowen. 🟦⬜ï¸� — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 1, 2025 • Trainer Hugo Palmer confirmed last Friday to Racing TV that a trip to Australia was still on the radar. 'It's a lot of money to pass up so we'll just have to see.' he said. Fellow English trainer Charlie Fellowes last week reiterated his desire to bring Luther ($26) to Australia for the Golden Eagle.
