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“Chaos Behind the Scenes: Players and Bevo Clashed Before Ugle-Hagan’s Finals Nightmare!”
Hagan’s future in the AFL, Western Bulldogs players and embattled coach Luke Beveridge clashed over the enigmatic full forward’s spot for last season’s 37-point elimination final loss to Hawthorn, according to a Code Sports report.
Initially left out of the squad to take on the Hawks, Beveridge was convinced to include Ugle-Hagan on the interchange after a meeting of the minds in the MCG dressing rooms only hours before the first bounce. It’s understood captain Marcus Bontempelli, who went on to train privately with the troubled star in the off-season, led the playing group in arguing for the 22-year-old’s selection.
“There was a situation before the game and it all went pear shaped after that,” one observer described the stunning pre-match blow-up.
However Ugle-Hagan was not able to make a positive impact on the contest, slumping to one of his worst showings of the season as the Bulldogs crashed out of the finals at the hands of Sam Mitchell’s young guns.
He has spent part of the pre-season training away from the main group, given special consideration by the club due to personal issues away from the football field. It has also been reported Ugle-Hagan must repair his relationship with key figures at the club, including Bontempelli and Beveridge, as well as Rory Lobb, who allowed his young teammate to move in with him last year.
Over the summer the Bulldogs’ captain made an extra effort to kick-start Ugle-Hagan’s preparation for the new season, organising training sessions and a personal trainer.
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd, speaking on Nine’s Footy Classified, questioned his commitment levels.
“I think to myself, ‘How did Clayton Oliver go last year without a pre-season?’,” Lloyd said.
“He was awful. He chased his tail … You get injuries. It’s one thing his lack of conditioning, the second thing is when you don’t have the respect of the coach and players. He didn’t have it when he first got to the club. How long did Luke Beveridge make him wait to play a game of football? A long, long time.”
Time will tell if the No.1 pick in the 2020 draft can finally deliver on his huge promise in 2025, but another disrupted pre-season does not bode well for his chances of contributing on-field.
