It’s taken a little while for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to earn his AFL debut – but senior coach Luke Beveridge has no doubt he’s ready.

Beveridge acknowledged the number one draft pick was close earlier in the year, before a concussion and a state-league shutdown stopped him in his tracks.

Ugle-Hagan persisted at VFL level. He’s kicked 13 goals in seven games for Footscray, amidst some close checking from opposition defences.

And Beveridge is confident those experiences will help him this weekend when he runs out against the Sydney Swans against Marvel Stadium.

“To his credit, he’s really worked hard. He’s a determined young fella,” Beveridge said.

“It’s going to be a big day for him, it’s going to be a big day for our club and his mob from Framlingham, his family. It’s going to be a good day.”

There’s no expectation on Ugle-Hagan other than to come in and play his role.

He’ll be important as the Bulldogs adapt without rising star Aaron Naughton this week, due to a concussion last week in the win against North Melbourne.

“He’s just like any other debutant,” Beveridge said of Ugle-Hagan.

“Many who have come through have found their first outing extremely difficult.                

“Others, it’s just really happened for them. We hope that it goes that way for Marra.

“He probably got to the point just when he was concussed where he was close (to selection) and he was playing a stronger four quarters. But he missed a month because we got shutdown and he couldn’t’ play at state-league level.

“Now he’s worked his way back in to his four-quarter outlook and performance. We’re confident that he’ll get through the four quarters and it will be exciting to see him wear the red, white and blue.”