‘Commanding Respect’: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Encouraged to Adopt a ‘More Professional’ Approach Following Late Arrival at Training

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is still a work in progress at the Western Bulldogs, as revealed by Nine’s chief AFL reporter Tom Morris, who noted that the player was late to training last week.

Having recently returned to the club after a lengthy hiatus addressing mental health and behavioural concerns, Ugle-Hagan reintegrated into training last Monday.

The promising young forward also had an in-depth discussion with former Brisbane players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson about his experiences over the past year.

During this conversation, he shared his experiences of reaching “rock bottom” with regards to his mental wellbeing.

“All the noise surrounding me ultimately led to a stay at a rehabilitation facility for my mental health,” Ugle-Hagan disclosed on the Rip Through It podcast.

“It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate as I didn’t trust myself behind the wheel.” 

“There were times when I contemplated, to be honest, whether life was worth living.” 

“I faced a tough period where even leaving the house felt overwhelming. I truly hit rock bottom.”

Morris indicated that the Bulldogs are committed to taking their time with the 23-year-old, stressing that there’s still much to work through before he’s ready to play at any level. 

“He has expressed some frustration with the media, which is his right, but he’s on a very tight rein,” Morris commented on Nine’s Footy Furnace. 

“We shouldn’t rush to conclusions about when he might return to AFL or even VFL as he focuses on his fitness and health.” 

“However, just five days after his return to the club, it’s not a major concern but still highlights the fragility of the situation; he was late to training yesterday.” 

“If you’re Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, you’d want to ensure you’re doing everything possible to showcase your professionalism and earn the trust of your teammates and fans alike.” 

James Hird, a former Essendon coach, emphasised that the essential focus for Ugle-Hagan should be on regaining the trust and respect of his teammates, stressing the need for full commitment during training.

“Absolutely, and I would expect him to go above and beyond as Jamarra,” Hird stated.

“If I were in his shoes, I’d be dedicating myself to training, arriving at 6 am five days a week to demonstrate my absolute commitment to my teammates, showcasing a level of professionalism greater than what was displayed before I stepped away.” 

“This is how you earn the respect of your teammates—the opinions of the general public aren’t as crucial; it’s the respect of your teammates that truly matters.” 

“I’ve seen comments indicating his eagerness to return to play. The path to that is through rigorous training, additional sessions, and doing more than everyone else.” 

Ugle-Hagan expressed his enthusiasm to get back on the field during the podcast as well.

“I want to play footy. I can’t wait to be back out there,” he shared. 

“I’m eager to kick a goal in front of those crowds.” 

“I’ve been following every Bulldogs game and supporting them through it all.”

“I plan to attend games towards the end of the year. I genuinely want to play at least one more game; I want to contribute.” 

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