'Happiest I've ever been': Jamarra Ugle-Hagan breaks silence after joining All Stars camp

Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has spoken publicly as his mysterious absence from the AFL looks set to continue.

The young gun forward will not play in his side's first-round match against North Melbourne and remains in doubt for the start of the season.

According to Nine's chief AFL reporter Tom Morris, there is a real possibility that the forward's return to the top level might not come until much later in the season.

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But, the 22-year-old has declared he is the "happiest" he's "ever been", after opening up on his personal struggles that have kept him away from the game.

The former No.1 draft pick has been absent from the club for much of the pre-season period, having not been sighted at training since December.

Despite this, the youngster has joined the Indigenous All Stars squad in Perth ahead of Saturday's clash against Fremantle, and discussed the work he has been doing behind the scenes while away from the Dogs.

"Obviously I feel like I'm the happiest I've ever been, but I don't know what's happening," he told Seven on Thursday.

"Right now, I'm just going to take it day by day. Obviously enjoy this trip, look after the little kids that look up to me and just have fun."

Ugle-Hagan also admitted he has been continuing to work through family struggles.

"Definitely had my ups and downs with family loss and then I struggled with that and the balance of training," he said.

"I've just stayed home, trained on my own and just trying to keep busy with my training and get on top of that.

"Psychologist stuff, which is, I don't know, it's a bit difficult, but right now I'm just enjoying my footy and training hard."

The young goalkicker did declare he is fit to attempt to return to training with teammates in the near future.

"We'll just see what happens and hopefully I'm back training (at the Bulldogs) on Monday," he said.

Ugle-Hagan has been training away from Whitten Oval with the club last month confirming that he is "undertaking flexible training arrangements" to manage "personal issues".

"Jamarra Ugle-Hagan won't play round one as he continues to train away from the club," Morris said.

While the Bulldogs are yet to confirm that the forward will miss round one, Morris understands that Ugle-Hagan will require a longer training block before he will be considered for selection in the senior side.

"Those closest to him concede his return may not be until several weeks or even months into the season," Morris said.

"Everyone has danced around Ugle-Hagan's issues because they are serious and they are personal. But what is clear at this time is there is legitimate concern from those around him regarding his health and wellbeing.

"That does stretch far beyond football."

Of Noongar, Gunditjmara, Djab Wurrun descent, Ugle-Hagan is currently in Perth with the Indigenous All Stars team in a non-playing role.

The side will come up against Fremantle with an exhibition game on Saturday.

Last month, the Bulldogs' acting general manager of football, Sam Power, admitted that the club do not see Ugle-Hagan as part of its immediate plans but hopes he will return at a later stage in 2025.

"Clearly with all of our decisions at present in the short term, it's around his wellbeing," Power told SEN radio.

"We want to set him up in the right way to succeed on the field in the medium-to-longer term."

Ugle-Hagan also took a period of personal leave last season where he missed two matches to return home to south-west Victoria.

He has played 63 senior games and kicked 103 goals since his debut in round 17, 2021.

Ugle-Hagan signed a two-year contract extension last May, committing to the Bulldogs until the end of 2026.

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