Point them out: How Ugle-Hagan wants fans to deal with racism

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An emotional Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has urged fans to call out racism in the stands after honouring Nicky Winmar's iconic act of defiance with a gesture of similar power.

A difficult week for the Western Bulldogs star ended on a stirring high after he booted five goals, including one after the siren, in a match-winning performance on Thursday night.

Ugle-Hagan made a powerful stand against racism, lifting his shirt and pointing to his skin after his first goal in a tribute to former St Kilda star Winmar?s response to racial taunts 30 years ago at Victoria Park.

The 20-year-old Indigenous star has never met Winmar but was determined to make a statement after being racially abused by a spectator last Saturday.

Ugle-Hagan showed maturity beyond his years by speaking eloquently about the issue moments after the game on Channel Seven and later at coach Luke Beveridge's post-game press conference.

Though he has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from his family, friends and football supporters, Ugle-Hagan has put the onus on fans to call out those who racially vilify players from the stands. The AFL is yet to identify the perpetrator.

"I just want to see someone point them out instead of me having to contact the club and say this happened, Ugle-Hagan said. I'd rather like someone in the fans point them out, let them know it's not the right thing to say"

"And that goes with any race, not just in Aboriginal and Indigenous boys and girls. It's all racism, it's making a stance and just it only takes a little bit just to make a comment like, it's not the best thing to say ... just pulling them up on the spot. It's just going to help and make it better for us.

Ugle-Hagan's voice choked up as he explained moments after the game why he lifted his jumper to the crowd.

I wanted to make a stand and show my presence, obviously what happened last weekend was a pretty hard time, Ugle-Hagan told Channel Seven. Just going out there and proving the point. I'm just a boy trying to play some football, so are the other indigenous boys.

After the game, he spoke alongside Beveridge and said the act was spontaneous.

I knew it was coming up to 30 years since Nicky Winmar did that but it just came in the moment, I didn't know I was going to kick a goal tonight, Ugle-Hagan said.

I felt pretty proud going out there with all my mates who supported me throughout a tough week and then to do that in front of everyone, hopefully, it makes a stance and a moment and hopefully people look back on it 30 years from now and say nothing has happened since.

Hopefully, no one else cops anything that I have been through

Ugle-Hagan, who spent Monday away from Whitten Oval, said he struggled to prepare for the game after the abuse but described the Bulldogs as his safe place.

I was fortunate to have my partner Liv, she supported me throughout the whole day, and that weekend, and then obviously I've had contacts throughout my family and my teammates, they had my back and I had so much support from fans and everyone else, Ugle-Hagan said.

That's what got me through and I knew we've got such a great club. We're all connected. I felt comfortable going into work and going out and training.

You just kind of forget what happens because you haven't so much fun inside those doors.

His teammates celebrated the young star's after-the-siren goal by mobbing him, in one of the best feelgood moments of the season.

I did get a bit emotional, especially when all the boys ran over to me because it was a special moment, Ugle-Hagan said. Not because I kicked five and the way I performed but the week I've had and the boys have supported me throughout the game.

Throughout the week they've also supported me with messages and catching up during training and always ringing me and stuff. But that moment out there was probably a bit emotional because they literally love me. It's so easy to say but we're just not just a football club.

Ugle-Hagan said his mother, Alice, had spoken publicly about his abuse to protect her other sons.

She's a proud mum, she's looked after me since I was a young boy, Ugle-Hagan said. I've still got four younger brothers underneath me so obviously she just doesn't want that to happen to her kids. I don't think anyone wants that to happen to any of their children or cousins.

Ugle-Hagan spoke of the hurt he felt.

I was thinking back in the day would have had it a lot worse. I think now players are getting sick of it and making a stance and we?re pointing it out and sorting it out, Ugle-Hagan said. Everyone's getting behind our back nowadays.

I think those comments definitely hurt ya as an individual. You can hear 1000 compliments and then one bad comment you're going to remember the bad comment and not the 1000 compliments.

It's making a stance and making an impact, and hopefully we just change and educate people that have no idea that that's just racism, it's not allowed.

Beveridge said Ugle-Hagan remained at home on Monday, in part because of his disappointment at being racially abused, and in part because he didn't want to have the same conversation with his clubmates who were concerned about his wellbeing.

Ugle-Hagan accepted the opportunity to present Indigenous debutant Arthur Jones, from Mount Barker in Western Australia, with his jumper a moment both men cherished.

Just do your family proud and your mob, play for your people, Ugle-Hagan told Jones in a video of the jumper presentation posted by the Bulldogs. Go out there and have some fun.″⁣

Jones had a hand in setting up Ugle-Hagan's goal as his tackle on the wing forced the turnover which allowed the ball to be kicked into their forward line.

Earlier in the week, Ugle-Hagan's mother Alice Ugle detailed the abuse her son received during Saturday's clash with St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in an expressive poem posted to Facebook.

My son was racially discriminated against by a St Kilda fan, she wrote on Facebook in a post confirmed by the Western Bulldogs.

Can you believe in 2023 the word c--- is still used?

The word c--- thrown with reckless abandon,

A slur that cuts deep like a sharp abandon,

Its venomous tone, a reflection of hate,

A reminder of how far we still have to go, it's our fate.

But we won't give in, we won't back down,

We'll stand up tall and never let our spirits drown,

For we know that love will always triumph over hate.″⁣