2020 AFL Draft Media Opportunity
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 10: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, draft selection #1 for the Bulldogs poses for a photo during the NAB AFL Draft media opportunity at Marvel Stadium on December 10, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The announcement of new guernsey numbers are coming in thick and fast, and former No.1 draft pick Jamrra Ugle-Hagan has landed the prestigious No.2 that was worn by club legend and former skipper Bob Murphy.

After what he described as a disappointing debut season, the highly skilled and athletic key forward told the Western Bulldogs  "the change in number can be more of a reset" heading into the second year of his AFL career.

The same jumper was worn by a two-time All-Australian in Murphy, who played 312 games over 18 seasons at the Kennel. Ugle-hagan was stoked at the news to be following in the footsteps of the Dogs champion and said "he was the first to know when [he] got back to the Club."

“I love Bob Murphy,” Ugle-Hagan said.

“I sent him a photo and he was the first to know when I got back to the Club. He got around it and loved it was which was good.”

The No.2 has special meaning for Ugle-Hagan as the same number was worn by his mentor and Brisbane great, Chris Johnson, who looked after the 19-year old whilst he was beginning his AFL career in Melbourne.

"I picked the number as my mentor is Chris Johnson and he wore the number two," he said.

The young Dog struggled to break into the senior side in 2021, amassing a total of five senior games and seven goals to his name, however the talented teen hopes for a better performance at Whitten Oval next year.

With the team entering their pre-season training period and after using 2021 as a learning curve, Ugle-Hagan looks forward to a better year of working hard and hopefully playing more senior games.

"Last year I wasn’t happy with my performance throughout the whole season, and I know I can do better," he said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 21: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan of the Bulldogs runs with the ball during a Western Bulldogs AFL training session at Whitten Oval on April 21, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Ugle-Hagan has the support of Dogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli, who had a stellar season in the red, white and blue and narrowly missed out on the Brownlow Medal behind Power star Ollie Wines.

Ugle-Hagan recently told the media that he does not see Bontempelli as 'The Bont', but as a best mate who "pushes [him] so much".

“At the end of the day, it’s who works the hardest and who did the work before you even walk in for the season," he added.

The Dogs will begin their 2022 campaign against the Demons in a grand final rematch at the MCG on Wednesday, March 16.