‘Candy from a baby’: Troubled Dog’s sad revelation in candid interview amid trade interest

Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has opened up on the mental health struggles he has faced in 2025, as well as a possible trade up north in a rare interview.

The 2020 No.1 draft pick didn’t feature at all for the Bulldogs this season, after spending extended periods on a leave of absence from Whitten Oval to help counter personal issues.

Speaking to Seven’s Xander McGuire after appearing in a Victorian Indigenous football carnival, the 23-year-old revealed it was great to “have light at the end of the tunnel” after meeting with Gold Coast officials midway through last week.

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“It’s good to have light at the end of the tunnel, but obviously (I’m) still contracted to the Western Bulldogs, so I’ll still represent them as a team. But I’m still keeping options out there, we’ll see what happens,” Ugle-Hagan said.

“Obviously my mental health was paying a toll, but that’s because football wasn’t a thing. Obviously I wanted to play and wanted to train, but somehow I’ve just got to meet the requirements and stuff… it was challenging.”

“I reckon I had 12 funerals this year, so that’s 12 family losses. That definitely takes a toll on my football and stuff. But my football’s my medicine, so if I have that, I’m healthy, up and about.

“But if I don’t have that, it’s definitely a challenge — it’s like taking candy from a baby.”

Ugle-Hagan suited up for the same carnival that Collingwood’s Bobby Hill and former North Melbourne Tarryn Thomas took part in over the weekend in Cranbourne.

The Dogs key forward is contracted until the end of next season, however there is a mutual understanding between he and the club that if Ugle-Hagan is unable to find a new home, they will part ways this off-season.

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