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Bulldogs boss's big call on Ugle-Hagan's future
SEN • May 3rd, 2025 3:23 pm
- Ugle-Hagan has gone on personal leave indefinitely
- He is yet to play for the club this year
- He remains on payroll despite his absence
- His social media activity has frustrated many
Western Bulldogs president Kylie Watson-Wheeler remains hopeful but far from confident that Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will be with the club in years to come as the star continues to battle his personal demons.
This week the club announced that Ugle-Hagan would take an indefinite leave of absence after months of speculation over his future and inconsistencies with his involvement in training.
Ugle-Hagan is yet to play for the Bulldogs this season and is looking more and more unlikely to take to the field at all this year.
The club’s hand was seemingly forced to take action this week amid growing frustrations over the 23-year-old’s behaviour and use of social media.
According to SEN’s Sam Edmund, Ugle-Hagan had not been in contact or presented to the club for four weeks when confirmation of his personal leave was made public.
Echoing the sentiments of coach Luke Beveridge, Watson-Wheeler insists that their priority remains player welfare.
“I understand our fans are frustrated and disappointed by this situation,” she told *SEN’s Crunch Time. *
“It’s natural because when Jamarra plays at his best, he is a gun, but the reality is that as a club we have a duty of care for our young men and women and this is complicated.
“We have to help him get on track to be in a space that he feels good comfortable and happy and then hopefully he can have the career he deserves.”
BREACH OF CONTRACT?
With Jamarra’s attendance this year sporadic at best, Watson-Wheeler was pushed on whether or not he had been in breach of his contract and if there were discussions with the AFL over possible compensation regarding his salary.
“The most important thing is we are working hand in glove with the AFL,” she said. “And we will work though those issues (finances).”
Asked if she believed Ugle-Hagan’s future was with the Dogs, Watson-Wheeler added: “I hope so.
“We have to get him in the right head space first. I’d like to think that if he is playing football, if he has a future career, that he is playing at the Dogs.”
CONTRACT TALK
In terms of controlling the controllables at the club, there has been no end of focus on the contacts of both coach and captain.
Beveridge and Marcus Bontempelli are both without a deal for 2026, and despite mounting speculation that one or both could be poached, Watson-Wheeler insists she is not worried.
“He’s done a pretty good job so far this year,” she said of Beveridge. “We are a tight unit and we as a group decided at the start of the year that we didn’t want the distractions of negotiations.
“Our relationship is based on trust and mutual respect so there’s very open conversations. We are meeting regularly and discussing where we’re at.
“We’re not thinking that way (that someone might poach).”
As for the captain, Watson Wheeler insists that delayed conversations have always been the Bont’s style.
“Marcus has traditionally always waited until very late in the season to talk contract so I’m not worried about that at all,” she said.
“I imagine it will roll out relatively soon.”
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