Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is taking a leave of absence from the club due to personal issues, as announced on April 29, 2025.

The Bulldogs' situation has been complicated by a long-term knee injury suffered by fellow key forward Sam Darcy on Easter Sunday.

The club has developed a management plan to support Ugle-Hagan during this time, in collaboration with his family, management, and the league.

Recent social media posts showing Ugle-Hagan partying while his teammates trained have drawn significant criticism towards him.

Prior to this leave, Ugle-Hagan was on a modified training program and had not played any games in 2025, attending the club infrequently.

Ugle-Hagan has been rumored to be considering a move out of Victoria, but potential rival clubs may hesitate to sign him due to his ongoing personal challenges.

Bulldogs football boss Sam Power emphasized that Ugle-Hagan's health and wellbeing are the club's top priority, ensuring he will receive the necessary time away.

Ugle-Hagan has faced scrutiny due to reports of strained relationships with teammates and coach Beveridge, complicating his future with the club.

Since being drafted first overall in 2020, Ugle-Hagan has scored 103 goals across 67 AFL games, and he is contracted with the Bulldogs until the end of 2026.

The decision for Ugle-Hagan to take leave was made collaboratively among him, his family, his management, the Bulldogs, and the AFL.

Coach Luke Beveridge indicated that a return to playing for Ugle-Hagan is unlikely in the near future, suggesting the situation may be reaching a critical point.

Beveridge also expressed uncertainty about Ugle-Hagan's desire to continue playing AFL, noting that his actions have not aligned with his stated intentions.