‘Much more’ to it as Bulldogs gun on the outer over damaged relationships

A storm is building around Jamarra Ugle-Hagan as issues with captain Marcus Bontempelli, his coach and an ex-housemate emerge.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will not be considered to play for the Western Bulldogs until he has fixed three fractured relationships at the club.

That is according to a report on Monday night that suggested the former No. 1 draft pick has left captain Marcus Bontempelli “frustrated” as the team heads into the 2025 season with a question mark next to Ugle-Hagan’s name.

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Journalist Sam McClure reported on Channel 9’s Footy Classified Ugle-Hagan needs to win the approval of Bontempelli, coach Luke Beveridge and former housemate Rory Lobb before he will be considered for a promotion from the VFL to the Dogs’ senior side.

Bontempelli was reportedly frustrated with Ugle-Hagan’s attitude after going out of his way to train with him privately at a Hawthorn gym across the summer.

The Bulldogs confirmed in January Ugle-Hagan had been absent for most of the team’s pre-season training program and also missed a pre-season camp in Queensland as a result of “personal challenges”.

According to Nine, Beveridge recently addressed the playing group and said he would not risk “selection integrity” or risk “losing the trust of other players” by bringing Ugle-Hagan back into the team’s best 22 before he makes amends.

Marcus Bontempelli and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

According to leading footy journalist Damian Barrett, the star forward’s position in the team has been an issue since the club’s elimination final loss to Hawthorn.

Barrett said a decision was made internally not to play Ugle-Hagan in the massive game before the club eventually backflipped and selected him to start on the bench.

He said the club made the decision for “reasons that relate to what he (Ugle-Hagan) is going through personally, but also the behavioural component to that period of time frame”.

The 22-year-old had just four disposals in the loss to the Hawks.

According to McClure, Ugle-Hagan has returned to full training in the last three weeks since the Indigenous All Stars game — but said there is “much more” to his non-selection than just physical conditioning.

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd told Footy Classified it is time for Ugle-Hagan to be given a wake up call.

“To hear you say he’s put in three weeks of training. I laugh at that,” Lloyd said.

“Because I think to myself, ‘How did Clayton Oliver go last year without a pre-season’. He was awful. He chased his tail. You get soft tissue injures.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been training with teammates, including Aaron Naughton. Picture: Michael Klein.

“One thing is conditioning the other thing is when you don’t have the respect of the coaches and the players. He didn’t have it when he first got to the club. How long did Luke Beveridge make him wait to play a game of AFL football? A long, long time.”

Lloyd went on to say: “The problem with footy clubs is, it’s one player who’s taking everyone’s energy.

“It might be the sport psychologist. It might be the fitness coach. The captain. The coach. It’s just a nightmare and it can only last so long.

“If he wasn’t the No. 1 draft pick he’s probably gone by now. He’s got to realise his career will be over in 2-3 years.”

Ugle-Hagan is contracted with the Bulldogs through to the end of the 2026 season.

According to Barratt, the Brisbane Lions previously had Ugle-Hagan on a “shortlist” of potential targets the club may chase to replace Joe Daniher in future years.

Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel also said the Bulldogs have an issue with playing Ugle-Hagan in the VFL because it would potentially diminish his value in future trade negotiations — should the club attempt to show him the door.

He said a “spectre” will hang over Ugle-Hagan in the VFL if the club makes him play 4-5 games before being considered to return to the senior side.

The Bulldogs’ open their season with a Round 1 clash with North Melbourne on March 15.

Originally published as ‘Much more’ to it as Bulldogs gun on the outer over damaged relationships