Dogs opt not to set a ‘timeline’ for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s return following his exclusion from pre-season camp.

The Western Bulldogs are not committing to a timeline for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s return to training, or for that matter, the upcoming season.

The 2020 No.1 draft pick has largely been absent from club training throughout the pre-season, participating in only a handful of sessions.

Last week, the club announced that he is “engaging in flexible training arrangements,” but it has since come to light that he will not be joining the pre-season camp in Maroochydore this Friday.

Bulldogs’ acting general manager of football, Sam Power, acknowledged that the club does not envision Ugle-Hagan as part of their immediate plans, though they hope he may make a return later in the 2025 season.

“At present, we are not assigning a specific timeframe for Jamarra regarding when he might play or when he might rejoin full training,” Power explained on SEN radio on Thursday.

The club has permitted Ugle-Hagan an extended leave to address “personal matters.”

“Our current decisions are primarily centred around his wellbeing,” Power stated.

“We aim to set him up for success on the field in the medium to long term.”

“We are very hopeful that Jamarra will play a significant role for us this year, but as I mentioned, there’s no set timeline on that at present.”

Ugle-Hagan continues to train away from Whitten Oval, with the Bulldogs opting to keep him out of the spotlight at their camp to avoid any setbacks for the 22-year-old.

“We are currently implementing a training program that allows for flexibility—some of it is off-site, some involves club staff, and there’s also flexibility for him to be at the club various days,” Power explained.

“At this time, we believe this arrangement is best for him, hence his absence from our camp in Noosa.”

Power reiterated that the Bulldogs are prioritising Ugle-Hagan’s recovery over his performance on the field.

“Clearly, he is grappling with personal issues and challenges,” he noted.

“As a club, it’s crucial for us to offer support to Jamarra, maintaining regular communication with him, his family, and his manager.”

“To be frank, the focus on training and playing is not our primary concern at this time.”

Last season, Ugle-Hagan also took personal leave, missing two matches to return to his home in south-west Victoria.

Since making his debut in 2021, he has participated in 63 games, scoring 103 goals.

The promising forward signed a two-year contract extension last May, ensuring his stay at Whitten Oval until the end of 2026.