Jamarra Ugle-Hagan speaks on mental health break, desire to make AFL return

Joshua Mayne

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan speaks on mental health break, desire to make AFL return image

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has spoken for the first time since returning to the Western Bulldogs after a period of indefinite leave.

The former No. 1 draft pick stepped away from the club earlier this season, citing "personal issues" related to his mental health.

He spent time at a retreat in Byron Bay and is now determined to return to the field.

Ugle-Hagan opened up about his ongoing journey on the Rip Through It podcast, revealing he hit "rock bottom" before entering rehabilitation.

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"All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health," he said.

"It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate so I couldn’t drive, I just didn’t trust myself driving.

"I went through a struggle where I didn’t want to leave the house. I hit rock bottom and found basement.

"Suicidal thoughts would come pretty frequently, especially when I felt like I was on my own the whole time – the way I was isolated and put out in public."

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Western Bulldogs
Getty Images

The 23-year-old is pleased he found a space to talk about his mental wellbeing with people who have gone through similar struggles.

"It takes balls to talk in a group, but once you do it, it is f---ing amazing. It feels good and they have answers for you," Ugle-Hagan said.

"You think you are alone and no one understands.

"But when you speak up and hear people’s stories, it makes you feel so much better, hearing people’s stories and knowing they’re going through the same thing you are."

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Ugle-Hagan is now determined to return to the field.

He has not played an AFL match in 2025, but re-joined the Bulldogs last week.

The key forward intends to be involved with the club on upcoming match days, with hopes of earning a senior call-up before season's end.

"I want to play footy. I can’t wait to play footy," he said.

"I have been watching every single Bulldogs game. I have been supporting them, been watching them.

"I will go to games at the end of the year. I genuinely want to play one more (game), I want to play some games.

"It’s going to be grouse."

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
Getty Images

The Franglingham-born talent emphasised his appreciation of the club's support and understanding.

"I call the CEO my brother, Ameet Bains, that is my one of my good mates, I love him," Ugle-Hagan said.

"I’m good friends with the doctor and good mates with all the boys, there’s different characters.

"You go in there, they look after you and they genuinely love you in there.

"It is just, I will get anxious and have that anxiety about going in (to the club) because I feel like I did (let them down).

"Unfortunately it was out of my control because my mental health was not in the right spot.

"I thought I was actually going really well, I’m training well.

"Then, I was just getting to the end of the week and I felt like I didn’t have the reward.

"It was like ‘When am I playing next? When am I going to play?'"


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Joshua Mayne

Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News currently based in Sydney, Australia. He has previously worked as a newsreader at 2SER and a journalist at Ministry of Sport. Joshua specialises in rugby league, motorsport and tennis. He is still waiting for Arsenal to win the Premier League again.