Bulldogs Brownlow Medallist Voices Frustration Over ‘Fictional Character’ Ugle-Hagan

Brad Hardie, a Brownlow Medallist and former Western Bulldogs player, believes that his ex-club has truly reached its breaking point regarding the behaviour of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

The talented forward has yet to step onto the field this year and shows no sign of returning, as off-field issues persist.

This past weekend, Ugle-Hagan was seen once again in an Instagram story, enjoying drinks and partying, while consistently training away from the main group whenever he shows up at Whitten Oval.

There have been suggestions that the Bulldogs should suspend the 23-year-old’s pay. Former Essendon coach James Hird raised this issue on Nine’s Footy Classified.

Hardie states that the club has explored all avenues but feels they are ultimately out of options.

“They can’t (stop paying him), and they are well aware of that. They would prefer to have done so. It seems the only time he and his management make an appearance is to collect his paycheck, which is quite odd,” Hardie told 3AW.

“I believe the club has talked with the AFL and looked into all those possibilities. The Bulldogs are in a position where they feel obliged to support one player, but they also need to consider the other 44 players; it’s just unfeasible, mate.”

“He may decide to leave, and I think he has likely made that decision already, but he must realise that the Bulldogs control this situation because he is still under contract. It’s not a simple matter of him walking away to join whomever he likes.”

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“The frustration levels are palpable. Jamarra is becoming almost a mythical figure at this point.

“The club cannot do any more. To the best of my knowledge, they have exhausted all possibilities, and now it lies in the AFL’s hands.”

Tom Morris, Nine’s chief AFL reporter, also noted the club’s dwindling patience regarding the recent developments.

“The crux of the issue is that he doesn’t appear to be learning from his missteps with the club. They want to place their trust in him, but he isn’t giving them much justification for that faith,” Morris shared on Footy Classified.

Geelong’s coach Chris Scott did not rule out pursuing Ugle-Hagan in the off-season if the opportunity arises.

“We consider every option and are open to engaging in difficult discussions,” Scott mentioned on Tuesday night.

“We’re at a stage now where if people want to criticise us for considering these matters, we can accept that.

“Just because we’re discussing it doesn’t mean we will necessarily proceed; however, these situations are challenging as everyone recognises his talent. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if he weren’t such a gifted young player.

“In a highly competitive environment, salary cap considerations are crucial. You’re paying someone a significant amount of money to not play, so there’s a strong desire to see him back on the field.”

Ugle-Hagan remains under contract with the Western Bulldogs until the end of the 2026 season.