a day ago
Western Bulldogs coach's blunt take on troubled star's future
Western Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade has shared a rather blunt take on the future of troubled star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
The 23-year-old hasn't played since the 2024 elimination final and has spent considerable time away from the club this season.
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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.'
