Troubled young star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been handed an emotional return to senior football, selected by Gold Coast to play his first AFL match in almost 600 days.
The Suns announced on Thursday that 24-year-old Ugle-Hagan, who teared up at the news he had been picked, would make his debut for the Queensland club against Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday.
The 2020 No.1 draft pick lost his way after playing 67 games as a forward for the Western Bulldogs, including his controversial selection in the 2024 elimination final loss to Hawthorn.
That was to be his last match in the Western Bulldogs’ colours.
Ugle-Hagan revealed in a podcast last year that he hit rock bottom while taking extended personal leave from football in 2025 as the spotlight on him intensified. He said he spent time in a rehab facility for his mental health.
Ugle-Hagan joined Gold Coast during last year’s trade period.
“We told Jamarra in front of the playing group this morning, and I’m not going to lie, there was a tear from player and probably the coach as well,” coach Damien Hardwick said of Ugle-Hagan’s selection on Thursday morning.
“It’s an incredible story, it’s been 596 days since his last AFL game. He’s done a power of work for us, we’ve made him earn it, and we’ve been so impressed by what he’s brought.
“A lot of people have done a lot of work with Jamarra to get him the opportunity to make his club debut.
“We’re excited about what’s he going to offer. What we do know is we think he’s going to be a big part of our future moving forward.”
There was a debate over Ugle-Hagan’s place in the Dogs’ team for the 2024 elimination final, when the star forward eventually lined up on the bench. He ended the match with four disposals.
The Bulldogs were soundly beaten by the Hawks in that final.
Ugle-Hagan told the Rip Through It podcast in June last year he had “suicidal thoughts” during his months-long time away from the game.
“All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health,” Ugle-Hagan said on the podcast.
“It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate, so I couldn’t drive – I just didn’t trust myself driving. There were times when I would think about, to be honest with you, [that it was] just not even worth living.
“I didn’t want to leave the house. I hit rock bottom, and found basement … suicidal thoughts would come pretty frequently, especially when I felt like I was on my own the whole time – the way I was isolated and put out in public.”
