Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has rejoined the Western Bulldogs for training, aiming to revitalise his career following a prolonged absence since April. AFL commentator Matthew Lloyd has been candid about Ugle-Hagan’s prospects, suggesting that the club desires a solid month of consistent training from the 23-year-old before contemplating his return to the VFL.
The ideal scenario would entail Ugle-Hagan participating in a month’s worth of games at the state level, allowing the Bulldogs to assess his status ahead of the finals. His recent time away reportedly involved a stay at a health retreat. Though he missed the entirety of the 2024 season thus far, he was observed at an official training session at Whitten Oval recently.
According to Nine’s chief AFL reporter Tom Morris, Ugle-Hagan expressed remorse regarding his past six months and highlighted the importance of earning back the trust of his teammates and the club. Rebuilding that trust will be a challenge, as reactions amongst his teammates are mixed; while some welcome his return, others are more hesitant and sceptical about his motives.
Morris pointed out that Ugle-Hagan would need to demonstrate his commitment through flawless performance in training. His immediate goal is to play VFL shortly, but the club wishes to ensure he is physically prepared before this can happen. However, Lloyd believes it is highly unlikely that Ugle-Hagan will feature in the AFL for the Bulldogs again this season, viewing potential VFL matches more as a means of increasing his trade value than a pathway back to the senior team.
Lloyd remarked on the surprise of Ugle-Hagan’s return, suggesting that this move could ultimately benefit both the player, by opening opportunities elsewhere, and the Bulldogs, by boosting his trade potential. He expressed scepticism about any team, including talk of a link to the Sydney Swans, being willing to take a risk on Ugle-Hagan given his past challenges.
While there is a demand for key forwards across several clubs, including the Swans and the Lions, Lloyd cautioned that any team considering him would be taking a significant gamble. He indicated that he would not risk a chance on Ugle-Hagan without clear evidence of commitment and discipline, noting that he has not adequately shown these qualities throughout the year.
Currently, Ugle-Hagan is contracted with the Bulldogs until the end of 2026, giving the club the option to retain him if they choose not to pursue a trade.