- Given clearest signal yet that Ugle-Hagan could be on the move
- The troubled forward’s contract runs through 2026
- Comes after a string of controversies
The Western Bulldogs have given their strongest suggestion to date that troubled forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will not be at the club next season.
Ugle-Hagan was caught up in a nightclub drama when gunfire erupted outside Melbourne’s Love Machine in the early hours last Sunday morning.
Police confirmed he was present but stressed there was no suggestion he was involved, with CCTV backing his account of events.
The shooting comes during a turbulent year off-field for the 23-year-old, who has already taken time away for mental health reasons.
In 2024, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan took indefinite personal leave from the Western Bulldogs after weeks of erratic behaviour strained his relationship with teammates and coaches, with reports he was nearly dropped on the eve of an elimination final.
The troubles carried into 2025 when two of his cars were separately linked to police investigations, one tied to a drive-by shooting and another to a violent spree, though he was later cleared as he did not have possession of the vehicles at the time.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge hints star forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan may not be at the club next year
The 23-year-old has endured a turbulent two seasons marked by off-field issues and personal leave
Beveridge says the forward is ‘still training on’ but remains away from the club dealing with personal matters
His commitment has been publicly questioned, with critics blasting his attitude and coach Luke Beveridge warning that his future in the AFL now depends on how he responds to growing scrutiny.
Now Beveridge has made his most telling comments yet that suggest the forward may be at a different club in 2026.
‘It’s probably one that I can’t really comment on too much anymore. There are others managing that … obviously, that thing that happened is a police matter,’ Beveridge said about the recent nightclub shooting incident.
‘It would be sort of unconscionable for me to even talk about it … we haven’t seen [Ugle-Hagan] for a couple of weeks, he’s been at home dealing with some stuff [at Framlingham].
‘He seems like he’s healthy enough and he’s still training on. I’m just hoping for him that at the end of it all, there’s an opportunity for him to play AFL footy next year.’
Beveridge said he had not been in communication with the troubled star.
‘All you do is just try and help the person, which we’ve been doing with ‘Marra’ – he’s been doing his best to help himself, and I feel like he’s made some inroads,’ he said.
‘The trip up north to the health retreat was good for him, and I think this season was too far gone … starting afresh next year is a good thing to think about and consider.
‘I try not to get too emotional about it. The players have been terrific, really supportive of him, and just understand he’s not going to be here at a training session like today.’
Ugle-Hagan is still contracted to the Bulldogs for the 2026 season, but Beveridge’s latest comments suggest that is becoming more unlikely by the week.
‘It remains to be seen (whether he would stay at the club). There’s a bit of water to go under the bridge now at the end of the year and things to consider, so I can’t say definitively whether it would be here or somewhere else,’ Beveridge said.
‘I’d love Marra to be here if he’s at his best. Ultimately in an AFL program, you’ve got to be joining in all the time, so if the restart gets him there, then obviously it would be a great thing for the club and him … but we’ll see how we go.’
