It's taken the Western Bulldogs 16 games, but the club has finally made the call to unleash boom No.1 2020 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in the AFL.
Fascinatingly, the 18-year-old key forward will get his first shot on the AFL stage against the legend he's repeatedly been compared to, Sydney superstar Lance Franklin.
Ugle-Hagan will run out for his AFL debut as the first-placed Bulldogs clash with the Swans at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
A spot in the Dogs' forward line has opened up for the 197-centimetre spearhead after Aaron Naughton was forced into the AFL's 12-day concussion protocol period.
Although Ugle-Hagan had been considered a hot chance to make his AFL debut in Round One, he's had to bide his time in the VFL.
He's booted 13 goals from seven games with Footscray and has been named among the Dogs' AFL emergencies on several occasions.
Adelaide had the first pick of the 2020 draft but the Dogs were able to match the Crows' bid for Ugle-Hagan because the precocious youngster had graduated from their Next Generation Academy.
Ugle-Hagan's AFL call-up follows the urging of former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon for Luke Beveridge to finally give him a chance in the bright lights.
"I like what they're doing in making him earn it, but if you take all hope away from someone you can lose them altogether," Lyon said on Nine's Footy Classified this week.
"So get the jar of honey out. It's not always vinegar. Get the jar of honey going and give him a little taste and it just might fuel him and you keep him, you don't lose him."
Ugle-Hagan's highly anticipated AFL call-up has come amid rampant reports linking the teen prodigy to rival clubs.
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