- Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has taken aim at footy commentator Nick Riewoldt
- It came after Riewoldt slammed the 23-year-old star over his recent absences
Troubled star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has lashed out at one of his biggest critics, Nick Riewoldt, on social media.
The former No 1 draft pick has not played a game so far in 2025 and there is no indication if he will return this season with the Western Bulldogs announcing this week that he is set to take a leave of absence to deal with personal issues.
While the 23-year-old has sporadically appeared at training over the past few months, he has been criticised by some for publishing pictures online of himself out partying with friends. On Wednesday, he was also pictured in Melbourne attending the RUNIT Championships, which saw George Burgess and Nemani Nadolo go head-to-head.
Riewoldt has expressed concerns over the young star’s behaviour in recent months claiming that the ‘balance of power has moved too far in the player’s favour’ particularly when it comes to matters relating to mental health.
The St Kilda great implored the Bulldogs to remove him from their list.
‘There can be real reasons, legitimate reasons, but when you’re behaving the way that Jamarra is you forfeit all rights,’ Riewoldt said to Triple M’s Mick in the Morning.
Footy star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan took a swipe at AFL great Nick Riewoldt by changing his Instagram display picture to an image of the footy great
Ugle-Hagan has been criticised by Riewoldt in recent weeks after he has not played a game for the Western Bulldogs this season, having been dealing with personal issues
The footy star has been sporadically seen in training but has been posting pictures of himself out partying with friends and on Wednesday appeared at the RUNIT Championships
He added: ‘It is difficult to talk about because there is mental health at play here, but clubs should have some sort of discretion to be able to recoup some of that money.
‘It feels like players can essentially take the p**s.’
Ugle-Hagan, on Thursday, shot a barb back at Riewoldt by changing his Instagram display picture to an image of Riewoldt that appeared the St Kilda great was embroiled in a naked photo scandal in 2010.
Riewoldt, meanwhile, had also expressed sympathies for the Bulldogs who appear to continue to pay Ugle-Hagan’s contract despite the star not playing.
‘They had no real line of sight on when he was going to come; it was basically just lucky dip. That’s distracting.
‘I think the straw that broke the camel’s back was when the group went to Adelaide for Gather Round – he had been training for a couple of weeks prior to that – there was a compulsory session for the players that didn’t go on the Saturday morning, he didn’t show up for it.
‘He is on full pay at the moment. He has been paid and will continue to be paid somewhere between $800,000 – $900,000 for this year.’
Ugle-Hagan, the Bulldogs’ leading goalkicker for 2024 had taken some time away from the sport at the beginning of last season to deal with a few personal matters.
Riewoldt aimed a thinly-veiled dig at Ugle-Hagan, claiming ‘players can take the p***’
The Western Bulldogs said that they will be placing their full support behind the troubled star who is now taking a leave of absence
He would later split from his influencer girlfriend Olivia Kelly while team-mates reportedly began to grow concerned over his off-field conduct.
Luke Beveridge also had spoken with his coaching panel about dropping the 23-year-old ahead of his side’s elimination final against Hawthorn.
The situation had been heightened after Ugle-Hagan had posted pictures of himself partying on social media, yet the Doggies are standing by their man and earlier this week said they would be providing him with their full support.
‘Jamarra’s health and wellbeing remains the absolute priority and he will be given whatever time he needs,’ football executive manager Sam Power said when announcing that the forward would be taking a leave of absence.
‘We will continue to support Jamarra throughout this period.’
