• Ugle-Hagan is yet to play for the Bulldogs this year
• No timeline has been set by the club for his return
• The club has asked for privacy

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will take a leave of absence from the Western Bulldogs as he continues to deal with personal issues.

In a statement released by the Bulldogs, the former No.1 pick will step away from the club, with a management plan sorted to aid the 23-year-old in returning to full health.

The statement reads as follows:

Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is taking a leave of absence from the Club as he deals with personal issues.

The decision has been mutually reached by Jamarra and his family, his management, the Club and the AFL.

A management plan has been developed with Jamarra.

"Jamarra's health and wellbeing remains the absolute priority and he will be given whatever time he needs,” Sam Power, Executive Manager - Men’s Football, said.

"We will continue to support Jamarra throughout this period.”

The Club and the family have asked that Jamarra’s privacy and that of his family be respected at this time.

THE STORY SO FAR

Ugle-Hagan has been the subject of significant media coverage in recent weeks, with a particular focus on his social media activity and decision to skip the Bulldogs’ centenary celebrations in favour of a night out in Brighton.

It followed a tumultuous off-season for the key forward, who was largely absent from club training amidst what SEN Chief Reporter Sam Edmund described in January as a “complex situation”.

In March it was reported that Ugle-Hagan’s spot in that Elimination Final side was still being debated right up until the night of the clash, where he had two kicks, two marks and didn’t manage a goal.

The report added that teammates began to get sick of the 22-year-old’s antics in the latter stages of 2024 and his ‘dishevelled’ state at club recovery sessions, something that seemingly continued into the summer.

And in recent weeks the focus on Ugle-Hagan has dominated all Bulldogs press conferences.

Trade talk: Ugle-Hagan "won't play in Victoria next year"

It is highly unlikely Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will be playing for a Victorian club in 2026, according to Tom Morris.

The troubled AFL star is yet to play this season due to “complex personal issues” with Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge fearing he may never return to the top flight of footy. Ugle-Hagan’s behaviour – particularly on social media – has raised many questions in recent months, with evidence suggesting he has been partying and drinking while on fully paid personal leave form the club.

With his future now “in the hands of the AFL”, according to Beveridge, SEN’s Tom Morris believes the talented youngster will be moving interstate before long.

“I’d be very surprised if he’s at the Western Bulldogs next year,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.

“I’d also be surprised if he is with another Victorian club. There’s a lot to play out there.”

Last month, Ugle-Hagan was criticised for skipping the Bulldogs centenary match at the MCG, opting instead to go out to a number of bars in Brighton.

In recent weeks Beveridge has conceded the 23-year-old’s future might not be looking as promising as previously hoped.

“We are all concerned about him,” Beveridge told News Corp.

“If it doesn’t happen over the remainder of the season, then I don’t know. It will probably come to a head,” Beveridge said.

“I don’t know (if he will ever play AFL again), that is the serious answer. He will tell you he does, but the actions don’t back the words up.

“It is going to take a lot of time to build trust again with everyone. The thing about compliance and punctuality and being in a program, you have to be there. You can’t choose which days you don’t come.

“At the moment the decision-making in regards to Marra’s future and what that entails is significantly in the AFL’s hands.

“We’re waiting on them to do certain things and we’re continually interacting with them and working through it to work out what’s best for Marra.”