Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has laid bare the darkest chapter of his AFL career, revealing he was forced into Byron Bay rehab after reaching 'rock bottom' in a turbulent 2025 that almost ended his football future. The former No. 1 draft pick says he 'didn't want to go' into rehab, but was told it was non-negotiable by the AFL if he wanted to continue at the elite level.
'I actually got told to do it [rehab] by the AFL, for me to come back and play games,' he told News Corp. What followed was a brutal reset: four weeks in treatment, with a minimum of three sessions a day, a world away from the high-performance environment he had known at the Western Bulldogs.
Ugle-Hagan admitted he was struggling heavily at the time, describing himself as emotionally detached and medicated while trying to navigate a life that was quickly unravelling. 'Unfortunately, I was on antidepressants, and I just was so numb to everything,' he said. The former Bulldogs star admitted antidepressants left him emotionally numb during his darkest period away from football last season.
Ugle-Hagan said football disappeared from his life completely as his mental health deteriorated and relationships gradually collapsed around him. The AFL directed Ugle-Hagan into Byron Bay rehabilitation before allowing him any chance of returning to elite football competition. 'I wasn't myself. I didn't have that right bubble. I was so numb to emotions, feelings … and I didn't know that was affecting things around me.'
His time at the Bulldogs deteriorated as training attendance became inconsistent and eventually stopped altogether, with the club later confirming he stepped away indefinitely to deal with personal and wellbeing issues. The situation escalated to the point where he did not play another game for the club. At the time, the noise around his absence intensified, with what he described as constant scrutiny and growing pressure off the field.
But the 2025 season was not only defined by football struggles. Ugle-Hagan was also questioned by police on two separate occasions in incidents that drew public attention, though he was cleared of any wrongdoing. Despite the turmoil, he says he now understands the importance of the intervention that took place. 'It's kind of hard when you're told to go do something that you don't think you need,' he said.
Ugle-Hagan admitted isolating himself from teammates and support networks worsened his struggles throughout his disastrous 2025 campaign. He credited girlfriend Liv Kelly with helping stabilise his lifestyle, training habits, recovery routines and overall wellbeing significantly. 'But at the end of the day I'm grateful for it because it's kind of changed me into another man.'
He admitted much of his downfall stemmed from isolation and poor decision-making while away from the game, saying football had previously been his only outlet. 'I like doing stuff on my own, which obviously did not help at all. I found that leaning out and reaching out and actually leaning on other people helps heaps and that's what the one thing I didn't do.' Without the structure of AFL life, he said he struggled to fill the void and drifted away from the support systems that had once grounded him. 'It just went the wrong way,' he said bluntly.
A turning point came when Ugle-Hagan left Victoria and joined the Gold Coast Suns, where he was required to front senior leadership and explain his situation before being welcomed into the program. At the time, he was told there were questions - but also support. 'The boys backed me in the first time we saw each other. They all backed me in and said they trusted me.'
Coach Damien Hardwick then took an unusual step, inviting the young forward to stay at his home for several weeks as he transitioned into the club. It was there, Ugle-Hagan says, that his rebuild truly began. From there, he worked his way back into football, eventually returning to AFL action after 596 days out of the game before kicking three goals against Greater Western Sydney in a strong early showing for his new club.
Hardwick has since praised his commitment, though noted he is still rebuilding aspects of his game after a long lay-off. 'He's a terrific lad and a terrific person and we really enjoy having him around our footy club,' Hardwick said. Now, Ugle-Hagan says his life looks very different. He has regular psychology sessions, journals frequently, and is preparing to begin a youth work course. He also credits the tighter circle around him - particularly family and those who were present from the beginning - with helping him stabilise.
'The only people that were there when I was at rock bottom were the people that were there on draft night,' he said. Despite everything, he insists he does not regret the ordeal. 'I wouldn't change a thing, to be honest with you. It got me here. I'm the happiest I've ever been.' He now views his time away from the game as a turning point rather than a setback, saying the experience ultimately forced him to rebuild both his career and his life from the ground up. 'I always backed myself. I used all that media stuff as, 'you know, I'm going to prove these guys wrong'.'
