Former Essendon star Matthew Lloyd has voiced serious concerns regarding Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s prospects in the AFL. The young forward for the Western Bulldogs, who was the top draft pick, has not played this season due to personal and mental health challenges that he has faced since the previous year. The Bulldogs and the AFL have been providing support, but Ugle-Hagan’s return to the game remains in doubt.
Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade recently shared an update, indicating that Ugle-Hagan has taken additional time off in recent weeks due to family matters, which has hindered his participation at the club. Although he had been committed to attending training and pushing for a place in the VFL before this setback, his absence raises concerns about his ability to compete for a senior spot.
The VFL team, Footscray, is performing well, currently sitting second on the ladder, while the Western Bulldogs strive to secure a finals position. Lloyd expressed frustration at Ugle-Hagan’s inconsistent availability. He remarked that Ugle-Hagan needed to maintain his presence and effort at the club to have any chance of playing, either in the VFL or the senior team, suggesting that the trust between the player and the club has significantly eroded due to his absences.
Lloyd emphasised the critical nature of trust within a team. He believes that repeated absences could have permanently damaged Ugle-Hagan’s relationship with the club, concluding that it might be impossible for him to return to the AFL. He doubts that a change of environment at another club would help; instead, he suggested that Ugle-Hagan needs to take responsibility for his situation. Ugle-Hagan remains contracted to the Bulldogs until 2026, and he has stated a desire to return to football this year, but his future in the game is uncertain.