Questions raised as Jamarra Ugle-Hagan misses Western Bulldogs training

The situation surrounding an AFL star and his club has been thrust back into the spotlight after he hit another roadblock in preparations.

The ongoing Jamarra Ugle-Hagan situation at the Western Bulldogs has added a fresh chapter with the former No.1 draft pick missing from training early this week.

Ugle-Hagan has spent most of the off-season absent from his teammates, but had returned to training in the weeks prior to the 2025 season.

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Ugle-Hagan however was once again absent to kick off the week with the 22-year-old missing scheduled sessions on both Monday and Tuesday.

“The story of the night again about Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is that he hadn’t turned up to training for two days in a row after the long weekend,” Eddie McGuire said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Tuesday.

Despite questions being raised about the absence from the forward, Tom Morris set the record straight and said the club was aware and had been told prior.

“What I can tell you tonight is the club knew about this; the club knew he was not going to come to training on Monday and Tuesday,” Morris said.

“What this proves is that Jamarra Ugle-Hagan … remains a work in progress. It’s not linear.”

Ugle-Hagan missed two scheduled sessions this week. Picture: Michael Klein

“He has told the club that he will be back at training on Thursday,” Morris said.

“This is not going to be a smooth process for anyone. This is why football is secondary, and his emotional and mental health is the most important priority.

“But if he gets back to training on Thursday and puts in a good block of work for two, three, four weeks, he’ll be available for selection.

“But if he keeps missing training, he’s every chance not to play until midway through the year.”

McGuire then questioned what Ugle-Hagan was currently earning before turning the screws on the youngster for not showing up for the club.

“What’s he on, roughly?” McGuire asked.

Morris responded: “He’d be $900,000 to a million.”

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan of the Bulldogs looks dejected after a loss during the 2024 AFL Second Elimination Final match between the Western Bulldogs and the Hawthorn Hawks at The Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 06, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

McGuire: “Right so the Dogs have got injuries, they’ve got their centenary game against Collingwood in round two and they’ve got a bloke who is probably their best and up and coming star who can’t front up to play or to train.”

Morris hit back at the assertion from McGuire and said the young star and the club are working closely together to ensure he gets back on track.

“Mental health is involved here,” he said.

“I agree with you but when there is a mental health component it’s very hard for us to sit here and say ‘why doesn’t he come to training, why isn’t he playing’. It’s actually impossible for us to say categorically.”

It’s going to be a long road back to the AFL for Jamarra. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Ugle-Hagan, amid dealing with personal issues away from the game, has been on a “flexible” training itinerary for multiple months.

While the club said they’re OK with him missing the two scheduled sessions this week, the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph said the trust between the two parties remains non-existent.

“The problem here is the lack of trust, and it goes both ways. So, maybe he just woke up, didn’t feel great, got out of bed and said ‘I’m not coming into training’,” he said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Tuesday.

“But on that Monday morning, his coach (Luke Beveridge) had been, not critical of him, but suggested that it’s going to be a long, long way back for him, and he has to win the trust back.

“In their heart of hearts, they don’t quite trust him yet.”

The Western Bulldogs kick off their 2025 AFL season when they take on North Melbourne on Saturday Night at Marvel Stadium.

Originally published as Questions raised as Jamarra Ugle-Hagan misses Western Bulldogs training