Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli speaks on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, contract
Marcus Bontempelli says football is secondary to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s health and there is no clear timeline on when the star forward will return to full training.
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Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli has maintained there is “no pressure” on forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan as he plots a potential return to football.
Ugle-Hagan, 22, could travel to Perth as soon as Thursday with the AFL Indigenous All Stars team to embrace a non-playing role at the showpiece game with no timeline on returning to the Bulldogs.
The star forward has been battling personal issues that saw him granted a “flexible training arrangement” with the club last month.
Bontempelli, who has led the Bulldogs since Ugle-Hagan was drafted with the top pick at the end of 2020, said the young forward was “going well” and would continue to be supported by the club and his teammates.
“There’s no real timeline on where things are at with Jamarra,” Bontempelli said on Wednesday.
“As you’ve probably read and the club has spoken to, it’s focused on his health and wellbeing and the performance aspect definitely comes second.
“He’s continuing to work in the same model that he has for the past few weeks, and we try and support him the best way that we can with football being the second most important thing.”
Ugle-Hagan trained with the club’s VFL outfit last week, having spent part of the summer away from the club.
He did not attend last week’s Sunshine Coast training camp, with the club remaining hopeful he could yet feature this season.
Bontempelli said he had spoken to Ugle-Hagan “a little bit” in recent times but was conscious of putting any pressure on the forward to rush back.
“I don’t want him to feel pressure at all from the football club or from my position which can naturally just happen at times if you’re keeping tabs or trying to keep in touch,” he said.
“I just want him to feel like he’s being supported as best he can, and I know he is from top to bottom from our coaching group, our wellness staff, our medical team … and then obviously the players as well.
“He’s continuing to build through the current program he’s in at the minute and we all just want the best for him.”
A number of non-playing AFL and AFLW indigenous players are expected to make the trip to Perth for this weekend’s game against Fremantle.
All-Stars player and St Kilda speedster Bradley Hill said on Wednesday that Ugle-Hagan would be welcomed with open arms should he make the trip.
“If he does come, it will be great and it will be great for all us boys to get around him and support him,” Hill said.
“Definitely when he comes all the brother boys will be wrapping their arms around him and supporting him and enjoying the week with him. It’ll be nice.”
CONTRACT TALKS ON HOLD FOR DOGS SKIPPER
Contract talks aren’t on Marcus Bontempelli’s immediate agenda as he heads into his 12th season at the Bulldogs.
The 29-year-old captain is entering the final season of a four-year deal and would be an unrestricted free agent, though while he could command a monster contract at any other club, is not expected to exercise his options elsewhere.
While he wouldn’t go as far as saying the contract is more likely to happen later rather than sooner, Bontempelli said on Wednesday that football rather than financial figures was his firm focus right now.
“In my own journey, especially coming off last year, it was really (about locking) in on the summer period,” he said.
“Obviously we bowed out prematurely from what we wanted to and I think even for me in my previous contract negotiations, I’ve always taken my time with them.
“I think that’s because my priorities just change at this time of year.
“They become definitely more focused on performance, getting the group in the best shape that we can be to start the season.
“To say I haven’t put any thought into it isn’t probably right, but it’s just not right at the top of my list of things that I want to focus on at the minute.”
Bontempelli said he was “definitely not worried” about negotiations.
“I’ll continue to assess those things and treat them as I feel the need to … I’ve got a long relationship between me and the football club, so it’s in a really good spot at the minute,” he said.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is also out of contract at the end of this season.
“I think he’s in a really good headspace at the minute, and is coaching with great confidence,” Bontempelli said of his long-time coach.
“I think the group around him … have definitely helped him in his pursuit to be the best influence he can be on the team. “I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary for him (with being out of contract), and he continues to be a strong influence on our group.”
Originally published as Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli speaks on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, contract
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