Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returns to Western Bulldogs after grieving loss of Warrnambool elder
Ugle-Hagan had only just recently reintegrated himself at the Western Bulldogs after weeks away at a health retreat in northern New South Wales.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan back at the club after another stint away.
The 23-year-old has not played football at any level this year as he battles a number of personal issues.
Since returning, Ugle-Hagan had been undergoing weekly medical checkups in a triage with the AFL, Western Bulldogs and his management.
But he informed the club last week he needed more time away as he dealt with some personal tragedy, according to The Agenda Setters' Caroline Wilson.
'Last week, following the death of an elder, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan told the club he would be heading Warrnambool way to spend some time with family and friends,' Wilson said on Monday night.
'And look, I can't say too much about what happened, except that he did return back to Melbourne this evening, the club has confirmed.
'We know that there are some mental health issues going on with Jamarra, we know that the Bulldogs have wrapped their arms around him — but we know that this is a week-to-week proposition, and he did go home for personal reasons.
'There have been reports that there might have been some misbehaviour when he did go home but, as the club says, if that is true, they're not aware of it. And they're also very aware that he is having some deeply held personal issues and so, while they're not happy about it, they would understand it.
'The good news is he's back today, back this evening in Melbourne, and hopefully, continuing on the (right) track.'
Wilson said the Bulldogs were hesitant to go into specifics when she pressed them for more details.
'The club just simply wants Jamarra better, they want him better,' she said.
'I asked them whether he was being (drug) tested every week, they said that was a personal question and they weren't going to go down that road.
'But obviously he's part of (an) ongoing medical regime, which is also being run by the AFL.'
Speaking to former Brisbane players Rhys Mathieson and Mitch Robinson on their podcast Rip Through It recently, Ugle-Hagan opened up on what has been going on in his life behind the scenes.
He missed the Bulldogs' centenary match earlier this year while helping out a friend in need.
'My best mate rang me on the phone and was about to take his own life and I had to call him out of it, while he was in Warrnambool,' he said.
'He come up that weekend and spent it with me and the game was on, that is why I didn't go.'
Ugle-Hagan said he 'felt like I was on my own the whole time' while away from the club, and admitted he had suicidal thoughts.
'All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health,' he added.
'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, just not even worth even living.
'I went through a struggle where I didn't want to leave the house. I hit rock bottom, and found basement.'
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