Inside the off-field life of AFL Western Bulldogs star star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was the number one draft pick for the Western Bulldogs, but a new off-field development tells a state of affairs far removed from football.
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Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been training with an amateur boxer who owns a Chilean restaurant during his indefinite leave from the club.
The former number one draft pick has become close friends with Macoy Vargas, who runs Mr Latino Cantina in Chapel Street, Melbourne.
Ugle-Hagan has told friends that Vargas had become like his “family” and that he had been living with him.
Vargas declined to comment when approached at his restaurant about his friendship with Ugle-Hagan.
“You’ll have to speak with someone else,” he said.
Ugle-Hagan has joined Vargas and his family when they have taken out their food trucks, getting on the grill to help the business.
He has also been seen training with Vargas and Nicky White, a personal trainer, boxing coach and male model, at Chapel Boxing and Fitness.
It comes as sources claim the Western Bulldogs have been preparing to move on without the full forward, and may seek compensation from the AFL for his $850,000 a year salary.
The Bulldogs announced Ugle-Hagan was taking leave from the club for “personal reasons” last month.
Sam Power, the club’s executive manager of mens’ football, said at the time that “Jamarra’s health and wellbeing remains the absolute priority,” he said.
Ugle-Hagan’s welfare has been raising concerns in recent months.
Sources claim that security companies at nightclubs in Melbourne had been providing the club with reports of Ugle-Hagan’s movements after he had failed to attend training sessions.
The club did not respond to questions about those claims.
Ugle-Hagan’s time away from the AFL comes after a successful 2024 season, where kicked 43 goals across 22 games.
The club had hoped the former Scotch College graduate would improve again this season but he had been absent from mandatory training sessions.
Ugle-Hagan has kept in contact with his former private school friends, attending his five-year high school reunion in February.
He was photographed alongside fellow Scotch old boy, Richmond’s Maurice Rioli Jr, at the event.
A source with links to Scotch College says that Ugle-Hagan’s friendship with Vargas had developed in recent months.
Company documents state that Mr Latino Cantino was registered as a business on March 18 this year.
Ugle-Hagan posted a photograph with Vargas in front of a swimming pool in a suburban backyard this week with the caption: “Stray”.
The Bulldog forward’s social media has hit the headlines in recent weeks when he posted a cropped version of an X-rated photograph of Nick Riewoldt.
The headshot of Riewoldt was from a nude photograph of the player from the infamous St Kilda schoolgirl scandal.
Riewoldt had said Ugle-Hagan was “taking the piss” with his leave of absence and questioned why the Western Bulldogs had to include his wage in the club’s salary cap.
The AFL said: “The AFL have been working with Jamarra, the Bulldogs, Jamarra’s management, and his family. There is a management plan in place led by experts, and we will support him as he works through his challenges and so he can continue to have a long career playing footy.”
Ugle-Hagan’s manager Paul Connors declined to comment.
stephen.drill@news.com.au
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Originally published as Inside the off-field life of AFL Western Bulldogs star star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
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