Embattled Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan takes leave for 'personal issues'

Former No.1 AFL draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been granted a leave of absence to deal with "personal issues", the Western Bulldogs have revealed.

"Jamarra's health and wellbeing remains the absolute priority and he will be given whatever time he needs," said Bulldogs footy boss Sam Power in a club statement.

"We will continue to support Jamarra throughout this period."

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The decision was made mutually between Ugle-Hagan, his family, his management, the Bulldogs and the AFL, the club said.

The Bulldogs also said a "management plan" had been developed.

Ugle-Hagan has not played a game at any level since last year's elimination final defeat to Hawthorn, in which the talented key forward went goalless and collected only four possessions.

Prior to taking leave, the 23-year-old had been following his own "flexible" program agreed to by the club.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge admitted last week that he wasn't sure if Ugle-Hagan wanted to continue playing AFL football.

"I don't know — that is the serious answer," Beveridge told the Herald Sun.

"He will tell you he does, but the actions don't back the words up.

"It is going to take a lot of time to build trust again with everyone.

"The thing about compliance and punctuality and being in a program [is] you have to be there. You can't choose which days you don't come."

The Bulldogs' Ugle-Hagan problem worsened when gun key forward Sam Darcy suffered a long-term knee injury on Easter Sunday.

Ugle-Hagan has booted 103 goals from 67 AFL games since being taken with pick one in the 2020 draft.

He is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of 2026.