Revealed: The hidden costs behind Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's absence, as Dogs 'despair' over star's future

Daily Mail​

22-04-2025

The hidden cost behind Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's saga with the Western Bulldogs has reportedly come to light after claims were made that his club were 'despairing' over his future.
Footy reporter, Jon Ralph, has claimed that even in his absence from the footy club, the 23-year-old star, who was snapped up as a No 1 pick in the 2020 National Draft, is set to keep his roughly $800,000 salary.
The footy star is yet to feature for the side this season, having also been training on a flexible basis as he works his way through several personal problems.
No time frame has been given on when he could return, though he has been pictured training with his team-mates in recent weeks. Uncertainty has also been growing over whether he could leave the footy club this year.
But as Ralph writes in the Herald Sun, AFL Player Association (AFLPA) rules relating to player contracts provide protection to the key forward's reported $800k contract.
The reporter adds, though, that the Bulldogs are keen to sit down with the AFLPA over whether he could continue to receive his salary in full.
Both the footy club and members of the AFL's welfare teams have sought to help the footy star through the ongoing issue and according to Ralph, there is hope from within the club that the issue won't end in Ugle-Hagan being docked his salary or being forced into a long-term absence.
'They'd have to tell Jamarra: "You're not the part-time footballer right now with a flexible arrangement. You're a full-time football — you come to every recovery session, every training session and every planning session. If you don't do that, we doc your pay",' Ralph said to Fox Footy's Midweek Tackle.
'I think it's less likely, but they're looking for a light bulb moment there. He's had a good couple of days, but let's face it, he's only had a good couple of days for the last six weeks — and very few of them over the last six months.
'I think it's coming to a head. Jamarra needs to change and he's not prepared to do that right now.'
With Sam Darcy set to be ruled out due to an ACL injury, Luke Beveridge is having to get creative with his forward line but his immediate fix will not include Ugle-Hagan.
The 23-year-old was the Dogs top scorer last season, booting 43 majors but last week, Beveridge told reporters that the youngster's future was in the hands of the AFL.
Meanwhile, News Corp's Scott Gullan has added that the Bulldog's have left a 'black hole' in their roster, by using six draft picks to arrange a bid for the 23-year-old No 1 pick during the 2020 Draft.
'This is something the Dogs have been thinking about and discussing internally. If this continues to go south and Jamarra doesn't play again for the Dogs, at least this year, it's wiped out the whole 2020 draft,' he added on Fox's Midweek Tackle.
"I'm starting to feel for the Western Bulldogs and I'm disappointed for them."
In light of the Jamarra Ugle-Hagan saga, Matthew Lloyd wonders whether there should be an extra clause to terminate contracts in special circumstances. #9FootyClassified | Watch on Nine & 9Now 🖥️ pic.twitter.com/Ko7nCpfimr
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) April 21, 2025
'The Dogs spent all year getting draft picks, they had six draft picks they had to compile that got enough points.
'If they didn't have to do that, they have all those picks — valued from Pick 26 to Pick 50. In that range there's players like Beau McCreery, Shannon Neale, Ollie Lord, Corey Durdin and Nathan O'Driscoll.
'So the Dogs have got this gap in their list because they put all the eggs in the Jamarra basket. It made so much sense and we understood it, but the system meant they had to give all this up.
'So now they're looking back going: "If Jamarra doesn't play for us again, we only had one other pick in that draft and he's already been delisted".
'There's a complete black hole and now they might even lose Jamarra as well. It's hurting them big time and is going to keep hurting them.'
It comes as St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt has criticised Ugle-Hagan after the footy star had published pictures and videos of himself partying on social media.
'There can be real reasons, legitimate reasons, but when you're behaving the way that Jamarra is you forfeit all rights,' Riewoldt said on Channel Seven.
'This is the issue, there is no mechanism for clubs to be protected.
'Not just the clubs but the players you're teammates with that are actually fronting up day after day doing the work for the cause, and you've got a teammate that is not buying in and is still taking five or six, seven per cent of the salary cap with no recourse from the football clubs.'
Matthew Lloyd has also claimed that he is beginning to feel sympathetic towards the Bulldogs over the saga.
'You'd think to yourself: "We've got Norton, Darcy and Ugle-Hagan." So you'd think we've got good cover,' Lloyd told Channel 9. 'No Weightman as well. You understand Weightman and Darcy but [on Ugle-Hagan] it's so disappointing - obviously, mental health is a big thing.
'I feel for the Western Bulldogs, Damo, for the fact that to hear a coach say he trains sometimes, then we don't see him. I'm starting to feel for the Western Bulldogs and say I'm disappointed for them.
'You can sense that he's never going to play for the Western Bulldogs ever again.
'It had me thinking, can the clubs cover themselves in the future and have a clause inserted that says: "You're using it to a point that is benefitting you and it goes past just mental health."
'Can you terminate or have the ability to in the future?'
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 24 at any time of the day, seven days a week for anonymous support and guidance.