Mt Barker’s Arthur Jones joins Indigenous dance on Stingray Bay Beach during Bulldogs’ pre-season camp

The Western Bulldogs and new draftee Arthur Jones have taken part in a special preseason camp on Gunditjmara country in Warrnambool. The theme of the camp centred on Indigenous culture and leadership, and the Bulldogs’ entire senior squad and football department spent three days based in Yambuk. The Mt Barker-raised Jones is taking part in his first preseason with the AFL club after being selected from Claremont with pick 43 in last year’s national draft. The Bulldogs had two nights camped out in swags and tents on land owned by Indigenous people that have played with their club. During the camp, the Bulldogs went to Framlingham, where young star and 2020 No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan grew up. Ugle-Hagan lives with Jones, and the young duo have become very close since his move across to the east coast. The Bulldogs met Ugle-Hagan’s family, took part in a boomerang session, had a talk from elders around a bonfire, and visited places of importance to Indigenous people including the local church and cemetery. On the first day the Bulldogs camp went to the picturesque Stingray Bay Beach in Warrnambool, where local Indigenous community members performed a welcome to country, smoking ceremony and traditional dance, with two of the dancers Ugle-Hagan’s brothers. As the final dance began, Ugle-Hagan and Jones joined in to express themselves in front of their teammates in a traditional setting.