- Young Western Bulldogs star's football future in doubt
- Jamarra Ugle-Hagan hasn't trained much with the team
Western Bulldogs youngster Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly doubtful of playing football in Round 1 as he continues to miss pre-season training sessions.
The 22-year-old striker has been seen sporadically at Whitten Oval since pre-season training began in November.
“The complicated Ugle-Hagan situation is not new territory for the Dogs, with the club overcoming some challenges last year during a productive season for the emerging 22-year-old,” football journalist Sam Edmund told SEN Breakfast .
“But those challenges are proving increasingly difficult for some sectors of the side to understand.”
“There has to be concern, if there is concern about his immediate future as a player, if he rarely trains, if there is no certainty that he will attend a preseason camp.
Former football great Kane Cornes responded: “When it's a team sport, you want to feel like everyone is pulling their weight.”
Western Bulldogs youngster Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been absent from training sessions and the club is yet to explain why.
The 22-year-old's immediate future with the Dogs is under a cloud
“If you're referring to the fact that his teammates are now starting to have a level of frustration or questions, then that's a problem.
'You can't hide. If you haven't worked out much… then this will be a real problem for your body.'
However, News Corp reports that “key figures within the club have had some previous concerns about his off-field lifestyle.”
On Tuesday, the Bulldogs issued the following statement about the star: 'The Western Bulldogs can confirm that forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is currently making flexible training arrangements while dealing with personal issues.
'With the support of the football program, Jamarra has alternated his training between Mission Whitten Oval and outside the Club. The Club continues to provide full support to Jamarra and remains in constant contact with him, his family and his management.
“As Jamarra's health and well-being are of utmost importance, the Club requests that his privacy be respected during this period.”
The young gun's availability for the Indigenous All Stars game on February 15 against Fremantle is also under a cloud.
Ugle-Hagan had a good season last year, scoring a career-high 43 goals.
The Dogs will face North Melbourne on March 15 in Round 1.