Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has taken an open-ended leave of absence from the club as he continues to deal with complex personal and medical issues.
The talented former top draft pick had been on a training plan at the club, but he will now step away from the club and from training entirely as part of a medical management plan.
The Bulldogs announced the move on Tuesday afternoon, saying the decision had been “mutually reached” by Ugle-Hagan and his family, his management, the club and the AFL.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will take a leave of absence from the Bulldogs.Credit: AFL Photos
“Jamarra’s health and wellbeing remains the absolute priority and he will be given whatever time he needs,” said Sam Power, the club’s executive manager of men’s football.
“We will continue to support Jamarra throughout this period.”
Ugle-Hagan had previously been on a “flexible” training program and would attend the club semi-regularly, although this masthead reported last week he had been missing from the club for the previous fortnight.
He will now be full-time away from the club and under a medical management plan.
The AFL’s head of mental health and wellbeing, Dr Kate Hall, has been working Power and Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains on the Ugle-Hagan management plan.
Coach Luke Beveridge has been clear that Ugle-Hagan was not close to a return, even when star young forward Sam Darcy went down with a long-term knee injury in round six.
The 23-year-old who was the No.1 pick in the 2020 draft is contracted until the end of next season, but doubts continue to grow over his future at the Western Bulldogs.
More to come
