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This is good news. Imagine a fit Marra heading into finals. Wildcard extraordinaire! Little steps, little steps.
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BT COME BACK!
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Ready to fall for it again personally.- I'm a visionary - Only here to confirm my biases -Comment
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Smells like Smith - we draft him, develop him, play him every week, support him through a drug misdemeanor, suspension for headbutting, ACL recovery, then he says he's "outgrown" us. What's Jamarra going to say - and I very much hope for him to continue with us for a long time - that we didn't have faith in him in his time of need? That the coach didn't trust him? That he was made to feel uncomfortable?
I'm also being a bit paranoid but we have a bit of a history with players leaving. Also, we still don't know what the problem was/is, or I don't, anyway.Comment
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Dogs hopeful JUH's return not far away, Darcy's remarkable comeback
Troubled star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has met with Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and is edging closer to returning to training with the club
WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is hopeful Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will soon return to the club, opening the door for the troubled forward to resume his AFL career.
Ugle-Hagan is on a leave of absence as he deals with personal issues and hasn't played a game this season, after being unable to regularly train with the Bulldogs since late last year.
The 23-year-old has recently spent time at a health retreat in northern NSW in an effort to get his life - and career - back on track.
Ugle-Hagan last week posted a Rocky-style training montage that appeared to show his physical and mental health was improving.
On Wednesday, Beveridge said the Bulldogs are in the process of getting Ugle-Hagan back to Mission Whitten Oval, with an eye towards the 67-game forward returning to action.
"We're working through that. I've had some meetings with 'Marra'," Beveridge said.
"He's come back from a month of doing everything he can to sort of refocus and work out what's next in his life and the next steps, and the proposition of playing some football is there.
"Whether it's in the distance or whether it's a month and a half away, I couldn't tell you.
"But we're hoping to have him back in it at the football club really soon and that's about all I can tell you."
The AFL would need to tick off Ugle-Hagan's comeback because he has been under the League's mental health plan since taking leave.
The 2020 No.1 draft pick has been the subject of trade speculation, with Sydney considered possible suitors.
However, Beveridge recently swatted away suggestions Ugle-Hagan could be on the move at the end of the season, declaring him "our player".
"I've got no thoughts that he won't be here next year," Beveridge said last week.
Meanwhile, Sam Darcy will complete a remarkable comeback from a knee injury less than eight weeks after it was feared his season was over.
Darcy was initially told he had probably torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when he landed awkwardly in the Bulldogs' win over St Kilda in round six.
It was then thought the 21-year-old would require surgery and face a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
But he ultimately avoided the need for surgery and missed only six games with an impaction fracture and associated ligament damage.
Beveridge confirmed Darcy will return to action in another clash with the Saints at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
"He's done a really scrupulous and professional job on rehabilitation from that injury," Beveridge said.
"We welcome him back and look forward to having him part of tomorrow night."
Darcy enjoyed a hot start to the year, kicking 14 goals in his first five games.
The 205cm aerial threat will add to the free-scoring Bulldogs' attacking weapons against St Kilda as they look to bounce back from a humbling last-start defeat to Hawthorn.
"We'll blend a little bit of ruck time in there to make sure he's involved in the game," Beveridge said.
"But he's an enormous threat (in the forward line) and we saw the way that his early part of the season was evolving and his presence.
"Early in the game last week, Hawthorn took a lot of intercept marks. With Sam there (against St Kilda), that definitely won't happen."
Darcy's return is a further boost for the Bulldogs after confirmation Beveridge had agreed to a two-year contract extension, tying him to the club until 2027.
The Bulldogs' longest-serving coach - who led the club to the 2016 premiership - is hopeful out-of-contract captain Marcus Bontempelli will soon follow suit.
"It's important for all of us," Beveridge said.
"What an incredible player Marcus has been, and what a citizen and person he is.
"I haven't got a line of sight on it, I don't know the detail, but I know (Bontempelli's manager) Tom Petroro and (Bulldogs list boss) Sam Power are always talking.
"Hopefully over the next couple of weeks there'll be some news on that."
The Bulldogs (6-6) will start warm favourites against St Kilda (5-7), despite Ross Lyon's side enjoying a surprise last-start victory over Melbourne before its mid-season bye.
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Don't piss off old people
The older we get the less "LIFE IN PRISON" is a deterrent...Comment
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Jon Ralph HeraldSun
The Dogs will meet Ugle-Hagan as early as next week at Whitten Oval. Absolutely thrilled he is on track. But might take a month of full training before they consider a VFL return. They aren’t even sure if he has kicked a footy this past month. Will need to do the workFFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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I was told he was at the game last night with Arty."I'll give him a hug before the first bounce and then I'll run into my pack and give them orders to rip him apart."Comment
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- I'm a visionary - Only here to confirm my biases -Comment
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Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will meet key Western Bulldogs officials as early as next week to chart return
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has made clear to the Bulldogs he is keen to return to the club and has ambitions to quickly play VFL football – but how soon will that be?
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will meet key Western Bulldogs officials as early as next week to chart a training program that will require a six-week block before he is ready for a VFL return.
Ugle-Hagan has made clear to Dogs football boss Sam Power and coach Luke Beveridge he is keen to return to the club and has ambitions to quickly play VFL football.
The club is beyond thrilled that Ugle-Hagan is in a state to want to recommit to the club.
They are determined to build him up slowly, while also using the lure of competitive football to help him fulfil a regular training schedule.
Ugle Hagan has been in a northern states health retreat but is back in Melbourne and regularly posting about his fitness progress.
The Dogs are unsure if he has even kicked a football since he left the club, having sporadically completed 10-12 training sessions since November last year.
So he would need 4-6 weeks of training first to ensure he does not break down, while also having to secure AFL approval to return to competitive football.
But the Dogs are determined to make his return a positive experience rather than a punishment for sessions missed.
Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan... more
They would welcome him back into the full football program, rather than relegate him to the VFL training schedule, keen for him to be around his teammates and enjoy his time at Whitten Oval.
Those around Ugle-Hagan are aware that the 23-year-old committing fully for the next six weeks might have its challenges.
It means the club will take baby steps with Ugle-Hagan, who, the Herald Sun this week revealed, had an “appetite” for a return to VFL football.
Ugle-Hagan might still be traded to a new club next year if he wants a fresh start, but, if he can return to the VFL, it would increase the Dogs’ bargaining position.
The club is now about to enter talks with Marcus Bontempelli on a new free agency deal, but already has plenty of salary cap room.
It will allow them to chase Zak Butters, Matt Rowell and Miles Bergman to continue their midfield regeneration.
Budding AFL superstar Sam Darcy signed a four-year deal in December which will pay him handsomely, but nowhere near what he could secure this year on the open market.
Darcy’s deal will have lucrative incentive-based triggers and see him well paid, but he has never been defined by money or in a rush to sign up a bevy of endorsement deals.
Marcus Bontempelli and Aaron Naughton lead the Bulldogs off the ground after Thursday night’s win. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos
Bontempelli has always been well paid but never held out for ridiculous money, so having the club’s best two players on excellent but not irresponsible deals is a massive list management bonus.
The Herald Sun also reported the AFL, under new mental health and football boss Laura Kane, is not keen for Ugle-Hagan to simply shut down his season and await a potential trade.
Ugle-Hagan has told friends that he is keen to meet AFL legend Lance Franklin and seek his counsel as a mentor on his AFL journey.
But, despite being set up with his number, he had not yet taken up that chance before he left the Dogs.
There are many people in his corner, including his management firm, the AFL and Indigenous legend Eddie Betts, who are desperate for a positive outcome.
The AFL is keen to see continual progress from Ugle-Hagan, having worked hard with him to first set up an indefinite break from the Dogs then commence that time in the health retreat.
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I can see the need to make him commit to training full time before letting him back to the VFL but I hope we don’t put this arbitrary 6 week ban on it. If he’s back and fully participating I’d have him in the VFL as soon as possible, the best way to get him on the right track is playing footy, yeah he has to commit and show he wants to but as soon as he possibly does we need to get him into the VFL.
I don’t buy any safety concerns etc, it’s the VFL he’s still fitter than half the blokes running around out there tbh. Even if it’s only a half or even a qtr just get him out thereComment
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Getting excited about him returning to his best. (I am so easy!) But does anyone see a bit too much Mr. Bean in that photo of him with Bevo above?Comment
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Spot on, surely he is fit enough to recondition himself fully at vfl level. It would not surprise that if we do stipulate a set training block as long as six weeks before the prospect of playing again it would be quite easy to lose the motivation to continue to do the 'right' thing.
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