Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy coaches Shaun O’Loughlin and Rick Andrews lauded the talents of the south-west-based players, including Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Fraser Marris and Riley Nicolson at the V/Line Cup in Gippsland.

The next generation academy squad, which split into two sides, had 20 south-west representatives from the Hampden, Warrnambool and District, Mininera and District and South West District leagues.

O’Loughlin, a TAC Cup-level coach, said the south-west contingent had adapted well to the professional demands of the carnival.

“They experience the types of things they would see at a higher level. It comes in for things like what to eat, what to drink, how much to sleep, how to rehab properly,” he said.

“They have that professional environment which they mightn’t get as much of at their home clubs, but they’ve adapted well to it all.”

The Ballarat-based coach said Ugle-Hagan was among the most impressive prospects.

“He’s a very talented boy,” O’Loughlin said.

“Riley Nicolson was another who stood up. He played back, went forward and really held down those key positions well.

“I was also impressed with Fraser Marris. He’s such a clean ball-user and he’s so good through that midfield.”

Rick Andrews, the coach of the other Western Bulldogs academy side, named Port Fairy’s Brenton Dalton and Koroit’s Clem Nagorcka as standouts.

He said he placed sole emphasis on individual player development within the team.

“It’s the first step into that (TAC Cup) pathway for a lot of these boys,” Andrews said.

“It’s about that personal growth in the players.”