Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is not asking for Ugle-Hagan and Darcy to be the match-winners. He would happily settle for the pair to keep the Hawthorn defence honest and prevent Sam Mitchell’s band of fleet-footed runners from cutting them apart off half-back.
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“Number one on defensive aggregate, those big forwards, believe it or not, it’s quite critical to that aspect of the game as well, and part of that is just competing in the air and controlling the ball at ground level and making sure that if the opposition get out that they’re under a bit of pressure,” Beveridge said.
“We’ll nudge them to make sure that’s a priority in their game. And hopefully, they get some spoils, hopefully they hit the scoreboard, and hopefully they create a few others.”
Like Franklin, who fed off the energy from the crowd, Ugle-Hagan enjoys the interaction with the fans.
“Hopefully, it energises everyone,” Beveridge said. “I’m talking about priorities, but the flashy things and the fancy things, the roses on the trees, you know that they’ll happen if all the other stuff is taken care of. Mara knows that.
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“He’s a hard body, Jamarra. His contest work, he commits, he knocks them over, and he’s strong in what he does. That’ll be his starting point.”
The Dogs were given a boost with star midfielder Adam Treloar getting through training showing no signs of the calf niggle from round 24.
Speedster Laitham Vandermeer (hamstring) also completed training, as did Rhylee West, who will push hard for a recall from a fractured jaw, though Beveridge foreshadowed minimal changes to the side that booked a finals berth with victory over Greater Western Sydney.
