National Recruiting Manager Dom Milesi says the Bulldogs will take a cautious approach when it comes to placing any expectations on draftee Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

Ugle-Hagan, a product of the Bulldogs’ Next Generation Academy (NGA), was selected at pick one in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft on Wednesday night, with the Bulldogs matching Adelaide’s bid.

While there’s no hiding the 18-year-old’s talent and potential, Milesi said the pressure that comes with being a top selection – added to an already challenging COVID-affected year – needs to be taken into account.

“We’re sort of conscious with Jamarra, that while he’s the number one pick and there’s been a lot of hype, we have to temper the expectation a little bit around him as a player initially,” Milesi said on SEN1116.

“Given he’s an 18-year-old key position player, traditionally even if you look at the highly ranked ones over the last few years they haven’t had a major impact at AFL level the first couple of seasons. 

“On top of that, Jamarra hasn’t played footy for 12 months, so it will take him a little while to get up to speed, as a lot of the boys who got drafted out of Victoria will.”

Speaking of his attributes both on and off the field, Milesi described the Framlingham product as the kind of person any club would love to have.

“He’s really keen to jump at the footy, which is something you love to see. He’s got great speed, and he’s very competitive as well,” he said. 

“That’s probably another thing that puts him up the order a fair way – he really loves competing at every contest and he’s got fantastic character as well which is something you love to bring into any club.

“It was quite exciting knowing that (we’d have the chance to bring in) a player of Jamarra’s ability – we knew all along there was a good chance he’d be a high selection, but it’s a real credit to our NGA, in particular Dave Newton, as well as NAB League Clubs GWV Rebels and Oakleigh Chargers, and also Scotch College who he worked with to get him into the position he’s in.” 

From next year, clubs will no longer have priority access, nor the ability to match bids on any of their NGA prospects drafted in the first round. 

And while Milesi understands the AFL’s decision to do so, he confirmed the Club will continue to support and develop those coming through the Academy – regardless of where they end up.

“I can understand where the AFL are coming from in terms of wanting to preserve the draft, particularly at the top end, but at the same time the NGAs have done a lot of really good work – not just with the Bulldogs but across the competition,” Milesi said. 

“I think we still have to try and promote those avenues for players from different backgrounds to give them more opportunities.

“It’s about striking that balance going forward where we are still giving those players that might not have chosen AFL as a sport, or are new to the game an opportunity to get into the system, but understanding too why the AFL are going down the path of trying to reserve the first round as much as possible. 

“From our point of view we are still very keen to invest in our regions – to me it’s always about giving players the chance. They might not end up at your club, but hopefully they still go on and have a good AFL career – but if they do end up at the Western Bulldogs, that’s a bonus as well.”