Western Bulldogs face another challenge as Jamarra Ugle-Hagan deals with personal issues

There’s another delicate problem at hand for one of the Western Bulldogs’ biggest stars. It’s unfortunately a familiar tale for the club, writes JAY CLARK.

Once again, the Western Bulldogs find themselves managing a complicated situation.

About three months after the departure of Bailey Smith to Geelong after a difficult final 18 months at the kennel, the Dogs are supporting Jamarra Ugle-Hagan through some delicate personal issues.

The club’s position is clear: the brilliant forward first and foremost will be given as much support as he needs, as a person, to overcome his current challenges.

And they are multifaceted.

Ugle-Hagan is a proud Indigenous man who has been thrust into the AFL spotlight since he walked into the club with much to learn about the professional world of Australian rules.

Ugle-Hagan is dealing with a difficult period of his life. Picture: Getty Images

And in 2023, he required time away from the club after he was subject to horrific racial abuse on the ground and online.

Who could forget his Nicky Winmar-style celebration and the talent of a man who booted five goals that night in an inspirational stand?

But his journey from a town of about 170 people in Victoria’s west to one of the competition’s most damaging key forwards has not been straightforward.

And to observers, it was clear on Brownlow Medal night that problems were at hand.

The Dogs have rallied behind Ugle-Hagan, desperately supporting him and providing help for the issues that have largely kept him off the training track now for months.

The gifted footballer is miles away from being ready for Round 1 in the kind of blow Luke Beveridge was desperate to avoid ahead of such a make-or-break season.

The Dogs have been the hardest team in the competition to read, ever since the magic carpet ride of the 2016 finals series. There was the premiership, the hangover, a list rejig on the run, and the frustrations that come with the Dogs’ wild form fluctuations.

At times in the second half of the 2024 season, they were the form side.

But then the elimination final loss to Hawthorn was over early.

Beveridge said to his troops they needed to fire early in 2025 after starting recent seasons with the handbrake on.

Luke Beveridge is facing a start to the season without his star forward. Picture: David Crosling

Ugle-Hagan’s teammates have been aware of the issues sidelining the forward, albeit for the occasional boxing session and off-site training, which isn’t going to cut the mustard when the whips are cracking at the top level.

The senior coach has set a hard line in the past in regards to player preparations.

Lachie Hunter was dropped from the 22 in 2022, and Caleb Daniel and Jackson Macrae both left the club at the end of the season after falling out of favour because the side needed more run and power.

Smith, who was out with a knee injury all of last year, had some off-field issues too before making it quite clear he no longer saw his future in the red, white and blue.

Bailey Smith is now a Cat. Picture: Alison Wynd

And now Ugle-Hagan is running out of time to be helping the Dogs at the time of the year when Beveridge said in a pre-season players’ address they needed to deliver. And with a contract extension still off-limits for Beveridge, the stakes are high across the board.

Sydney Swans had a massive crack at Ugle-Hagan and missed last year, and every club in the league will be looking on at this situation with intrigue.

On his day, the 22-year-old can play breathtaking footy; reeling in marks floating in from the side and picking up balls up off his bootlaces on bounding runs down the flank.

It’s a package that wins games and brings fans to the game.

But right now, the Dogs are trying to help the star goalkicker get things in line in his personal life, before he’s even a chance to return the field.

For Dogs fans, it will be another nervous wait for another of their star players, as football followers, once again, battle to get a good handle on what is happening at the kennel.