Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli has broken his silence on former teammate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's departure, describing the young forward's difficult final season as a "challenge for everyone" at the club.
Season of Struggle
The 23-year-old Ugle-Hagan, a former number one draft pick, failed to play a single game at any level for the Bulldogs during his final season with the club due to personal challenges. His last appearance came in the 2024 elimination final, a match where the Bulldogs reportedly considered withdrawing him shortly before it began.
Bontempelli, speaking publicly for the first time since Ugle-Hagan's trade to Gold Coast in October, acknowledged the ongoing distraction the situation created throughout the season. "That was probably the end of the arc in terms of Jamarra and his storyline throughout the course of the year," the Bulldogs star stated.
Fresh Start at Gold Coast
Despite the difficulties, Bontempelli expressed optimism about Ugle-Hagan's move to the Suns, believing it could provide the fresh start needed to revitalise both his career and personal life.
"I'm happy for him that hopefully this can be the change in the end that he needs to get back to enjoying himself, enjoying his football and hopefully Gold Coast can be that place for him," Bontempelli said.
The Bulldogs captain emphasised that Ugle-Hagan's absence from the field represents a loss for the entire AFL community. "Jamarra not being on the football field is probably the wrong thing for the AFL," he noted. "Everyone wants to see Jamarra doing his best and showing his talents and showcasing his capacity."
Looking Forward
Ugle-Hagan's Bulldogs career saw him kick 103 goals from 67 games after debuting in 2021, demonstrating the potential that made him such a highly-touted prospect.
Bontempelli also commented on the Bulldogs' ambitions for the upcoming season, expressing hope the club can improve on their ninth-place finish despite the introduction of a wildcard round that will effectively create a top-10 finals system.
"We'd love to be finishing top six and higher," Bontempelli stated, while acknowledging the new format could create "greater interest for the whole competition" by keeping more teams in contention deeper into the season.
The Bulldogs captain concluded with well-wishes for his former teammate: "My hope is that for him in his football and his life, it's the best move and gets him back out on the football field."
