Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is set to try and make an AFL comeback, but it won’t be with the Western Bulldogs.
Earlier this week, the Bulldogs were expected to make a decision regarding Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s future, as the forward, currently out of favour, prepared for his exit interview.
It now seems that the Bulldogs star has taken matters into his own hands. However, any agreement would require a trade, complicating potential moves due to his substantial $800k price tag.
If no club secures Ugle-Hagan before the trade period ends, the Bulldogs might pursue a negotiated settlement for the remainder of his contract, which is valid until the end of 2026.
This decision follows a season where the former No. 1 draft pick did not appear in any games, leaving both his career and the club’s direction uncertain.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan faces uncertain future at Whitten Oval after a season without a single senior or VFL game
The troubled forward prepares for an early-week exit interview as the Western Bulldogs weigh up trade and settlement options
Ugle-Hagan is contracted through 2026 on a deal exceeding $800,000 a year, yet it is commonly anticipated he will not be with Whitten Oval next season.
The Bulldogs are now weighing up whether to explore a trade, pursue a negotiated settlement, or cut their losses in another way.
The 21-year-old’s challenging year hit a low in August when he was present during a nightclub shooting in Prahran. Though he was at the Love Machine nightclub during the incident, there is no implication of his involvement.
Ugle-Hagan later revealed he was standing just a metre from where a bullet struck, describing himself as ‘lucky to be alive.’
The frightening episode highlighted the off-field issues that have increasingly dominated discussion of his career and raised further concern about his wellbeing and lifestyle choices.
That incident followed months of absence from football. Ugle-Hagan began the year on a flexible training program following personal tragedy and in April officially took a leave of absence to focus on his mental health.
He later admitted to experiencing suicidal thoughts and a deep loss of connection with the game.
In June, he delivered an emotional video message to teammates apologising for his struggles and vowing to try again.
Ugle-Hagan admits he was ‘lucky to be alive’ after narrowly avoiding a stray bullet in Prahran nightclub shooting
He returned briefly to training but never pushed for selection, and by season’s end had failed to feature in either the AFL or VFL sides.
For the Bulldogs, it meant managing the difficult balance between supporting a young man in crisis and addressing the practical realities of a list spot and a heavy salary commitment.
Coach Luke Beveridge has acknowledged the delicacy of the situation, saying recently that Ugle-Hagan needs a ‘fresh start.’
He would not be drawn on whether that opportunity might still exist at the Bulldogs, but his comments underlined the growing belief that the club and player will part ways.
Trade speculation has already begun, with Sydney floated as a potential suitor.
Any rival club would need to do extreme diligence before considering a deal, wary of taking on both the contract and the risks that come with it. Ugle-Hagan’s management, however, insists he is capable of redemption.
Prominent agent Paul Connors said last week he still believes in his client’s talent and commitment, pointing to Jesse Hogan’s successful revival at Greater Western Sydney as proof that players can rebuild careers after serious setbacks.
‘He looks fit, he’s got an appetite for training, he trains hard,’ Connors said.
‘I think he can still play, so it’s just if someone is going to give him an opportunity. You might have to go ten steps back to go twenty forward, but let’s see.’
