The AFL, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda have united behind Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

The AFL, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda have presented a united front in condemning the racial abuse directed at Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan during last weekend’s shock loss to the Saints. It’s the latest in a string of racial abuse to be reported in the last year, with seven other players reporting such instances in the past 12 months.

The Bulldogs described the comments directed at Ugle-Hagan as ‘harmful and abhorrent’, while their opponents St Kilda vowed to work with the AFL to uncover the spectator responsible. It is unclear yet whether the comments were made by a Saints member or general ticketholder.

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“Racism of any kind does not belong in our game, nor in our society. We cannot tolerate it,” the Bulldogs’ statement read. “Comments like these are extremely upsetting and cause significant hurt and harm for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

They are said to intentionally harm, and we continue to be confronted by them as a community. We’re saddened by the constant need to reinforce the negative impact this has on the individuals concerned, and all First Nations people.”

The Saints recorded a surprise 14.8 (92) to 5.11 (41) victory at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night to condemn Luke Beveridge’s charges to a 0-2 start. However the abuse of Ugle-Hagan put a slight dampener of the win and was felt around the league.

Melbourne Demons skipper Christian Petracca was asked about the incident on KIIS 101.1’s Jase & Lauren show on Monday morning, and said the issue was about far more than one moronic comment directed at one player. He said the incidents had a profound effect on Indigenous players, who he said are often reluctant to call it out so as to not ’cause a scene’.