Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, a 23-year-old forward with the Western Bulldogs, found himself out of 2023’s early games entirely. At the moment, he’s still riding high on clearing that personal hurdle. His absence from the club led many to question how much longer he would remain with the club. On Wednesday, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge revealed that Ugle-Hagan is taking indefinite leave to sort out personal issues. This has resulted in inconsistent training workshops and few interactions between the two.
Beveridge stated, “We haven’t seen him for a couple of weeks. He’s been home dealing with some stuff on the mission.” The club is actively supporting Ugle-Hagan during this difficult period, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing his well-being over immediate performance needs.
Despite Ugle-Hagan’s personal struggles, Beveridge noted, “It seems like he’s healthy enough, and he’s still training on.” The coach voiced optimism that Ugle-Hagan would be able to resume playing AFL footy in 2024. “I’m just hoping for him that the end of it all is there’s an opportunity for him to play AFL footy next year,” he remarked.
As we move deeper into 2023, questions continue to hang overhead around Ugle-Hagan and where he will play in 2024 and beyond. Though he’s under contract for next season, there have been signals he won’t be sticking around the club. Beveridge acknowledged that a trade suitor could emerge if a suitable offer is made, saying, “So can’t say definitively whether it be here or somewhere else.”
Beveridge still challenged Ugle-Hagan to restore his career as he is an up-and-coming player. He noted, “I’d love Marra to be here, if he’s at his best.” He stressed that in a successful AFL program, attendance is key — every time. “Ultimately in an AFL program, you’ve got to be joining in all the time,” said Beveridge.
The resulting impact on Ugle-Hagan’s personal situation has now risen to the level of a police issue, the coach stressed. This unexpected development further complicates the state of play. “There’s a bit of water to go under the bridge now at the end of the year and things to consider,” he mentioned.
