'Wouldn't give him a chance': Matthew Lloyd's blunt call as 'remorseful' Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returns to training

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has returned to Western Bulldogs training in a bid to resurrect his career, but AFL great Matthew Lloyd has delivered a blunt call on his future.

Nine's chief AFL reporter Tom Morris believes the Dogs want to see a solid full month of training from the 23-year-old before even considering him at VFL level.

That best-case scenario would then give him a month of footy at state level, with the club then needing to make a call on him come finals.

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Ugle-Hagan has been absent since April and reportedly checked into a health retreat outside of Victoria. He hasn't played at any level since the 2024 finals series, but was on deck for an official training session at Whitten Oval on Monday.

"He expressed remorse in the way he's spent the last six months, and that was reasonably received," Morris told 9News Melbourne.

"The next step for him is to train alongside them. What's abundantly clear is how much trust he has eroded within the club in that time.

"Some teammates are happy to see him back, some are more circumspect, some thought it was a bit awkward and unnecessary the fact he came back at all.

"Winning back their trust means he can't put a foot wrong from here on in. He'd like to play VFL soon, but physically they're looking after him.

"They won't consider it for at least a month. He's probably 1000 to one to play AFL again this season, but if he can get back and play VFL that is a step forward."

However, according to former Essendon captain Lloyd, the talented youngster isn't likely to play for the Dogs again, who will instead look to find value in the trade period.

"I was surprised to see him back," Lloyd told 3AW.

"For his own career and for him to play somewhere next year, he needed to go back and it's good for him, that helps him find a new home next year ... and it's good for the Dogs because it gets his (trade) value up and they can get something for him.

"He won't play a game for the Dogs. He might play four VFL games late in the year, but it's almost like fattening the cow, in a sense.

"They're fattening his value so the Dogs can get something for a former No.1 draft pick."

While there have been talks linking Ugle-Hagan to the Sydney Swans should he leave the club, Lloyd questioned whether they or any other club would take the risk.

"There's a number of clubs who need a key forward - that's the Swans, that's the Lions - but it would be a huge risk whoever takes him," Lloyd said.

"I just want to see if he'll train for 12 weeks and can he train four or five times a week for 12 weeks to show that he's worth giving a chance to.

"I wouldn't give him a chance, if I was running a football department.

"Yes he's had his problems, but he hasn't shown a capacity all year to commit to the Bulldogs and be disciplined in that environment."

Ugle-Hagan does remain contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of 2026, meaning they can opt to hold him to his deal if they don't wish to trade him.