Why Jamarra is “1000-1” to play AFL in 2025

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is back at the Western Bulldogs with the intention of returning to football this season.

The troubled 23-year-old forward returned to The Kennel for a light training session on Monday as he looks to spark his flailing AFL career.

After initially reporting Ugle-Hagan's return, Channel 9 journalist and SEN regular Tom Morris had added information on the situation on Tuesday morning.

“I just thought I’d add some more layers to this,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.

“The club wasn’t even 100 per cent sure that Jamarra would turn up on Monday. They were hopeful, he said he wanted to be there.

“He bumped into a few teammates at the Osborne on Saturday night who were there for a teammate’s birthday. He was saying he was going to be there on Monday by as late as Sunday afternoon there wasn’t any confirmation.

“He’d spoken to Ameet Bains, the CEO. He’d spoken to Luke Beveridge, the coach. He was there at the club, early, ready to go.

“He walked in, he spoke to his teammates. There was no apology or sorry per se, but there was an acknowledgment of remorse for the way things have panned out and some of his actions over the past few months.

“Which satisfied some people but there’s still a section of the playing group that needs to be convinced that Jamarra is the professional an AFL player should be.

“It’s going to take some time, that’s for sure. There are still some players who are circumspect around his return. But they’re willing to give him a go.

“Training was light in the end. The real test will be day after day can he tick every single box? That’s what is really difficult because he hasn’t been able to do that all year now, since the pre-season.”

Morris says the former No.1 draft pick is 1000-1 to play AFL in 2025 and is on his last chance at the Dogs.

“He doesn’t have another chance,” he added.

“If he stuffs up again, if he doesn’t get to training, if he acts or behaves in a way that is in whatever way unprofessional then there’s not going to be another opportunity

“So he has to be at training this morning and he really has to be there for four or five weeks before they consider playing him in the VFL. He would love to play VFL in a week or two but they’re protecting him physically more than anything. They reckon he’ll get injured if he plays in the next week or two.

“He’s 1000-1 to play AFL this year. He’s going to give it a go, he’s saying all the right things, so they’re hopeful that is does pan out the right way.

“Yesterday was a step forward and the way he spoke in front of the group was a positive.”

The return of Jamarra

The forward returned to the club on Monday and addressed the playing group upon his arrival, expressing remorse for his recent behaviour and his desire to find his feet at VFL level at some stage this year.

Ugle-Hagan took a leave of absence from the club just over a month ago to deal with personal issues, checking himself into a health retreat to fast-track his return to health.

It was confirmed by Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge that he had met with Ugle-Hagan on multiple occasions to attempt to map out a return to the side.

The club held out hope that their star forward would return in the near future, with his appearance at training today marking his first appearance with the group since his official leave of absence.

Ugle-Hagan has not played at AFL level since last year's Elimination Final.