- Young Western Bulldogs star’s footy future is in doubt
- Jamarra Ugle-Hagan hasn’t trained much with team
Western Bulldogs youngster Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is in growing doubt for playing Round 1 footy as he continues to miss pre-season training sessions due to problems in his personal life.
The 22-year-old forward has been seen sporadically at Whitten Oval since pre-season training kicked off in November.
‘Ugle-Hagan’s complicated situation is not new ground for the Dogs, with the club last year working through some challenges during an otherwise productive season for the emerging 22-year-old,’ footy reporter Sam Edmund told SEN Breakfast on Tuesday.
‘But those challenges are proving increasingly difficult for some sections of the side to understand.
‘There has to be concern, if there’s concern over his immediate playing future, if he’s rarely training, if he’s no certainty to attend a pre-season camp.’
Former footy great Kane Cornes replied: ‘When it is a team sport, you want to feel like everyone is pulling their weight.
Western Bulldogs young gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been absent from training sessions – and the club is yet to explain why
The 22-year-old’s immediate future with the Dogs is under a cloud
‘If you’re alluding to the fact his team-mates are now starting to have a level of frustration or questions, then that’s an issue.
‘You can’t hide. If he hasn’t done much work… then this is going to be a real issue for his body.’
However, News Corp are reporting that ‘key figures inside the club have held some previous concerns over his off-field lifestyle’.
On Tuesday, the Bulldogs released the following statement about the star: ‘The Western Bulldogs can confirm that forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan s currently undertaking flexible training arrangements as he deals with personal issues.
‘With the endorsement of the football program, Jamarra has alternated his training between Mission Whitten Oval and away from the Club. The Club continues to provide its full support to Jamarra and remains in constant contact with him, his family and his management.
‘With Jamarra’s health and wellbeing of paramount importance, the Club requests that his privacy be respected during this period.’
The young gun’s availability for the Indigenous All Stars game on February 15 against Fremantle is also under a cloud.
Ugle-Hagan had a good season last year, kicking a career-high 43 goals.
The Dogs begin their season when they square off with North Melbourne on March 15.
