Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is training again but coach Luke Beveridge says a return to play is “not the priority” as he looks set to miss Saturday’s clash against Fremantle.
Beveridge said Ugle-Hagan continued to deal with personal issues which had been exacerbated by the recent loss of relatives, after he was withdrawn from the Bulldogs’ clash against St Kilda last week.
He said it was unlikely the 22-year-old would travel to Perth to face the Dockers, but did not rule out his involvement in a scratch match on the weekend due to Footscray’s VFL bye.
Ugle-Hagan joined teammates for a full training session at Whitten Oval on Wednesday.
“It’s unlikely he’ll play this week, we just want to make sure he’s OK. He’s processing a few things on a personal level, and us supporting him, so he might not play this week at all,” Beveridge said.
“I can’t really give you much more than that, he’s back in today for the first full day, and he’ll train and we’ll get him going again.
“We’ll just look after him, and hopefully he can play some footy again soon, but that’s not the priority at the moment.”
Beveridge said how Ugle-Hagan “was going” following his return to Whitten Oval was unclear.
“I suppose when any player takes a little bit of time out of the game, that’s a difficult question to answer,” he said.
“In the game, and the pressures of it, every player across the land is always dealing with something as far as external scrutiny and the internal expectations, and ‘Marra’ is no different.
“He’s had some relations pass in recent times too, so he’s had that grieving and the mourning aspect of his life that has sort of compounded things for him.”
Beveridge confirmed star on-baller Tom Liberatore would return against Fremantle if he completed training this week.
The coach said he had continued to display no signs of concussion after he collapsed to the ground a short time after a collision during the Bulldogs’ loss to Essendon in round 5.
“We might be able to find some room for him,” Beveridge quipped.
In Liberatore’s absence, the Bulldogs rotated nine different players through centre bounces to great effect as they won the centre clearances 16-9 in the heavy win over the Saints.
Beveridge said it would be “challenging” to strip back a player’s midfield role again but he would continue to rotate through Jack Macrae, Riley Garcia and Cody Weightman.
“That small forward role is such a difficult role to play in the game, and it always helps the boys to get a look at a stoppage or two,” he said.
“Everyone understands if Libba is available … he becomes that central figure in the contest and at the stoppage, so we’ll work around that, and we’ll share the time through there again though.”
Beveridge said a “quite outstanding” start to the season for veteran small defender Taylor Duryea and the impressive performance of Lachie Bramble on Saints opponent Jack Higgins would make it difficult to find a backline spot for Caleb Daniel against Fremantle.
“(Daniel is) unlikely to come in this week, but we might take him to Perth just in case we need him,” Beveridge said.
The coach said No. 6 pick Ryley Sanders’ spot had “come under pressure” but said he was “learning all the time” when it came to his responsibilities in the Bulldogs’ team defensive structure.
“It’s more about what (the younger players) are doing when they’re not directly involved in the game, and he’s learning all the time about where to be, whether we’ve got the footy or the opposition has it,” Beveridge said.
“It’s in that as to why he’s come off a couple of times and been subbed, and then found himself as the sub last week, so he gets it … you’ve got to strike a balance of forcing the opportunity of a young man like Ryley who’s going to be critical for our club in the future, and making sure you fortify your opportunity to win every week.”