The Western Bulldogs are refusing to put a timeline on forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's return to training, let alone the season proper.
The 2020 No.1 draft pick has been missing from club training for much of the pre season, only attending a few sessions.
The club last week confirmed he is "undertaking flexible training arrangements", but have now revealed he won't be attending their pre-season camp in Maroochydore on Friday.
Bulldogs acting GM of footy, Sam Power, admitted the club don't see Ugle-Hagan as part of their short-term plans, with a hope he'll return at a later stage during the 2025 season.
"We aren't putting a timeframe on Jamarra at the moment in terms of when he might be playing, or when he might be back in full time with our training program," Power said on SEN radio on Thursday.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan of the Bulldogs looks dejected after their 2024 elimination final loss to Hawthorn. AFL Photos via Getty Images
The club has granted Ugle-Hagan extended leave to manage "personal issues".
"Clearly with all of our decisions at present in the short term, it's around his wellbeing," Power said.
"We want to set him up in the right way to succeed on the field in the medium-to-longer term.
"We're really hopeful that Jamarra's going to play a really important role for us this year, but as I've said, we don't have a timeline on that at the moment."
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is on extended personal leave before the 2025 season. Getty
Ugle-Hagan has still been training away from Whitten Oval, with the Bulldogs making the call to keep him away form the spotlight of their camp, with fears it could set the 22-year-old back.
"We've got a training program for him at the moment that has that flexibility – there is a portion of it that is off-site, there's part of that off-site that is with club staff, and there is the flexibility for him to then be in at the club on different days," Power said.
"We feel at the moment, with all the information, that that's the best program for him and that's what will continue with him not going up to Noosa … for our camp."
Power also declared that the Dogs aren't concerned about his on field output, choosing to prioritise Ugle-Hagan's recovery.
"Clearly he's got some personal issues and challenges that he's working through," he said.
"The important thing for us as a club at the moment is to be able to provide that support to Jamarra, and have regular communication with him, his family and also with his manager.
"To be honest, the training and playing side (of things) isn't the number one priority at the moment."
Lachlan McNeil and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in 2024. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Ugle-Hagan took personal leave last season, missing two matches to head home to south-west Victoria.
He has played 63 games and kicked 103 goals since his debut in 2021.
The youngster signed a two-year contract extension last May, keeping him at Whitten Oval until the end of 2026.
