Jamarra Ugle-Hagan trains with Bulldogs’ VFL side in first steps towards return
He may not be in Queensland with the rest of his teammates, but Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has taken the first steps towards a return as the Dogs near a decision on their final list spot.
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Western Bulldogs superstar Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has trained with the club’s VFL team in a step towards his return to the top level.
The Herald Sun can reveal the brilliant forward trained with Footscray’s squad at Whitten Oval on Monday night as part of his flexible training program.
The gun goalkicker went through his paces while his AFL teammates continue their training camp in Noosa.
The club is adamant the VFL training is a key part of Ugle-Hagan’s current program, which permits him to complete sessions at the club and also off site.
It comes as the Dogs weigh up whether to offer a list spot to former Gold Coast ruckman Brayden Crossley, 25, to help bolster the club’s ruck stocks.
A slew of injuries to the Dogs’ key position players including first-choice big man Tim English has put 198cm Crossley in the box seat to join the Dogs’ ranks after the practice game against Essendon next Friday.
The Dogs are strongly considering Crossley and Werribee midfield hard nut Dom Brew, but the need for another big man could trump extra midfield depth.
Ugle-Hagan won’t play in the preseason games against Essendon and Hawthorn and is unlikely to feature in the early part of the AFL season due to some personal issues.
Ugle-Hagan, who booted 43 goals across 22 games last season, has posted regularly on his social media accounts about his training at various gyms and boxing clubs around Melbourne.
His appearance at the VFL training session is a positive sign in his bid to make his football comeback as he deals with some personal issues.
The club has thrown its full support around the no. 1 draft pick and has said it will give the 22-year-old as much time as he needs to deal with his personal issues.
Some of the Bulldogs’ staff remained in Melbourne to help support the VFL team and Ugle-Hagan’s flexible training schedule.
The club has made clear to Ugle-Hagan it will do everything it can to assist him in his efforts to deal with his personal matters and return to football.
The Dogs are confident Ugle-Hagan can still play a meaningful part as the club attempts to go deep into finals in 2025.
However there have been some major injury blows over the past fortnight, with Liam Jones (hamstring), Jason Johannisen (hamstring), Tim English (abdomen) and Adam Trealor (calf) all sidelined.
Interim football boss Sam Power said this week the club would not rush Ugle-Hagan’s return.
“We’re in constant dialogue with Jamarra, and really the priority at the moment with him is his welfare and what we can do as a football club to support him,” Power said.
“Clearly he’s got some personal issues and challenges that he’s working through. The important thing for us as a Club at the moment is to be able to provide that support to Jamarra, and have regular communication with him, his family and also with his manager (Robbie D’Orazio).
“To be honest, the training and playing side (of things) isn’t the number one priority at the moment.
“The priority really is to support him through these challenges, and deal with the different things he’s facing. Hopefully he’ll overcome those but from a short-term perspective, it’s really the support and the welfare.”
Originally published as Jamarra Ugle-Hagan trains with Bulldogs’ VFL side in first steps towards return
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