There has been a great deal of talk surrounding reigning No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
Many people are wondering when we are going to see the talented young forward unleashed at AFL level, but the Western Bulldogs appear as though they are taking a patient approach.
And that’s the way it should be.
There is no rush to blood a youngster who has been described as a “generational talent” with “freakish ability”.
You just need to take a look at recent history to learn that giving games to developing forwards is not the be-all and end-all.
Since 2010, there have been three key forwards taken with the premium selection and for varying reasons, none of that trio remain in the AFL system.
Jon Patton retired recently after an injury-riddled career which ended following some off-field issues. He was held off until Round 12 of his debut year in 2012 before first injuring his knee the following season.
Paddy McCartin, who has been in the news for the wrong reasons this week, debuted in Round 3 of 2015. His AFL career with St Kilda was ended in 2018 because of concussions issues.
Tom Boyd stepped into the AFL in Round 5, 2014, but was done and dusted at the elite level in 2019 after battling depression.
It would be careless to throw all of them into the same category, but the fact of the matter is, big forwards need time and showing patience shouldn’t be seen as a negative.
Carlton has proved that patience is a virtue with Harry McKay. Taken with pick 10 in 2015, the now 23-year-old has gone past similar types from his draft class including Bulldog Josh Schache, Sam Weideman, Eric Hipwood and Harry Himmelberg.
He played just 15 games in his first three seasons, biding his time and building his game at the lower level.
Yes, he missed some time through injury but there is no denying that the Blues have treated him with kid gloves and are now reaping the rewards.
The spotlight is bright for a kid already likened to one of the game’s greatest ever in Lance Franklin. Those comparisons have been made before he’s even played a game of senior footy.
Now that is some hype to live up to. Patience please.
Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, who has experienced a somewhat similar hype as a No.4 draft pick himself, is acutely aware that the career of a footballer does not have a clearly written blueprint to follow.
“I’m sure he wanted to come in and play straight away and have an impact, but sometimes your footy career is non-linear,” he told reporters of his teammate earlier this week.
“You have to take a different journey at times.
“I feel like he is (handling it fine), but he's probably like any athlete, he probably wants to be ahead of where they are and he's hungry to succeed.”
Ugle-Hagan has years ahead to succeed. He can hone his craft, learn from his more experienced teammates, get his running to AFL standard, and work his way into what is a fairly cut-throat and competitive environment.
The penny doesn’t always drop for young players immediately, but allowing them to find their feet can more often than not be beneficial.
“He came in with a bit of a rush and wanted to display a bit of an influence early but sometimes it just doesn't go to plan,” Bontempelli added.
“Sometimes they're good lessons to learn early in your career because they do help you as you progress, going through those challenging experiences.
“There's no doubt he'll be better for it as a player.”
The fleet-footed and athletic Ugle-Hagan, with his new-found ‘fame’ in tow, had reportedly enjoyed himself over summer where he supposedly attempted to skip queues at nightclubs, perhaps even wheeling out the old “do you know who I am?” line.
Garry Lyon and Tim Watson discussed that sort of behaviour, refraining to lambast a teenager for having a bit of fun.
“I do not know that to be true,” Melbourne champion Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“What I do know and what my experience tells me is that footy clubs are the best places that if there is a little bit of overconfidence, it gets fixed pretty quickly.
“Sometimes they (footy clubs) can be overly brutal but I guess in this new day and age people look at it and say you can’t be doing that. It’s held people in good stead for a long time.
“He’ll sort it out, he’s a smart kid, he’s a talented kid. Playing in the VFL he’s getting great experience.
“They’ve got a player on their hands and how good will it be when he does play.
“You’ve got to live your life. He’s 19 years old, you’ve got to get out there and get amongst it.
“That wouldn’t be held against you. This is not what he’s doing, but unless you’re out getting smashed every weekend then people might have something to say about it.”
Watson himself was strutting his stuff at the top level at the ripe old age of 15 so has walked a mile in these shoes before.
He is all for the softly, softly approach.
“Long-term, I think it’s the best thing for him,” the former Essendon captain said.
“He’s a prodigious talent. To earn his spot in that team, to understand all the components that need to come together for you to be an AFL player at a very strong club, I think it will serve him well long-term.
“Those guys that haven’t necessarily set the world on fire at VFL level, but when you put them up to the next level it’s like, ‘This is what I’ve been waiting for. Now I can explode. I’ll show you some of the things I can do’.”
Even if he is waiting in line for his turn at the Bulldogs, does it really matter?
He clearly has enough raw ability to be considered the best junior footballer in the country and if he is nurtured and developed in the right way, and allowed to grow into his new life, then it will all click one day.
The average career life span of an AFL player isn’t long so why try to push the envelope and rush somebody who the game can enjoy for years and years to come.
Ugle-Hagan finds himself at a strong club who just happen to be playing some pretty good footy in 2021 and there are more accomplished players ahead of him.
Luke Beveridge has been operating with three tall forwards - Aaron Naughton, Josh Bruce and Tim English (who als ospends time in the ruck) - and it has worked a treat so far.
When that triumvirate was upset with English missing, the Dogs happened to lose. So there is a clear formula there and a 19-year-old trying to take everything in around him may not suit a strategy that is working.
So let him live and learn and enjoy himself.
As the Bont said, “he’ll be better for it”.
In recent years we’ve seen it blow up for people with similar profiles so experience tells us that maybe taking a more prudent pathway could pay off.
Why it might be tantalising to accelerate the process, there is absolutely no reason to hurry Jamarra.
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