Troubled forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is taking extended leave from the Western Bulldogs to deal with personal issues away from the AFL spotlight.
The former No 1 draft pick has not played a game this season, and there is no immediate indication on when or if he will return to the club.
Ugle-Hagan has not been a regular face at Whitten Oval, with Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge saying the 23-year-old’s playing future was in the hands of the AFL.
The Western Bulldogs, in a statement released on Tuesday, said the decision had been reached in conjunction with Ugle-Hagan, his family, his management and the AFL.
‘Jamarra’s health and wellbeing remains the absolute priority and he will be given whatever time he needs,’ football executive manager Sam Power said.
‘We will continue to support Jamarra throughout this period.’
The Western Bulldogs have announced that troubled forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will be taking extended leave from the club
In a statement released on Tuedsay, the club said that the footy star was taking the leave to deal with personal issues
The 2020 No 1 draft pick has not played a game this season and there is no immediate indication if he will return to action
The top draft pick in 2020, Ugle-Hagan last played for the Bulldogs in the 2024 elimination final.
The Bulldogs and Ugle-Hagan’s family have asked that his privcy is respected at this time.
It is expected that the Bulldogs will look to trade the 23-year-old later this year.
Prior to the announcement, the full-forward was on a flexible training arrangement.
While he had missed multiple sessoins this season and has not played a game after his prolific 2024 campaign, in which he was the Bulldog’s leading goalkicker, Ugle-Hagan has been pictured at times back in training with his team-mates.
In recent weeks, Luke Beveridge had revealed that the footy star’s future was in the hands of the AFL.
‘My focus is absolutely, totally on the group that’s here,’ Beveridge said.
‘Sometimes he’s here, sometimes he’s not. If he is and he isn’t, it’s not worth talking about.
Ugle-Hagan shared this image out with friends in the latest bad look for the Western Bulldogs star who has yet to play for the club this year
‘If he is and he joins in, we carry on. But because he’s not currently available for selection, it’s not at the forefront of my mind.
‘It’s just making sure that the group who are playing are ready to go.’
But in recent weeks, the 2020 No 1 draft pick had been criticised by some former pros, after photographs were posted on social media showing Ugle-Hagan partying on social media.
St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt called for teams to be better protected expressing concerns over how the youngster was not buying into the team but was still taking a hefty chunk of their salary cap.
‘There can be real reasons, legitimate reasons, but when you’re behaving the way that Jamarra is you forfeit all rights,’ Riewoldt said on Channel Seven.
‘This is the issue, there is no mechanism for clubs to be protected.
‘Not just the clubs but the players you’re teammates with that are actually fronting up day after day doing the work for the cause, and you’ve got a teammate that is not buying in and is still taking five or six, seven per cent of the salary cap with no recourse from the football clubs.’
Ugle Hagan had also replied to a follower on Instagram who had asked him if he was training today.
Ugle-Hagan was asked by a follower if he been at training and returned fire with a crass reply
St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt said that the Bulldogs should cut ties with Ugle-Hagan at the end of the year
It comes after a series of appearances at other sporting events and in bars with no timeframe offered on his return (Ugle-Hagan is pictured with boxer Tim Tszyu)
The footy star replied: ‘Rest day at ur mums joint’ sparking more criticism from Riewoldt, who said: ‘I think it’s clear for the Western Bulldogs now. It is crystal clear,’ Riewoldt said.
‘You’ve got one of the best young key forwards we might see for a long, long, long time. A generational talent in Sam Darcy. You don’t need Jamarra.’
Kane Cornes added that the situation had gone on for too long. He believes the footy club should stand Ugle-Hagan down.
‘I try not to think about the social media side of things too much,’ Beveridge said on Thursday.
‘At the moment the decision-making in regards to Marra’s future and what that entails is significantly in the AFL’s hands.
‘We’re waiting on them to do certain things and we’re continually interacting with them and working through it to work out what’s best for Marra.’
