Matthew Lloyd has doubled down on his criticism of Bulldog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, saying he is wasting a golden opportunity and will regret it once the dust settles.
And AFL journalist Damian Barrett has suggested the Bulldogs may be able to offload the former No.1 draft pick ahead of the final year of his contract without paying him out, citing a potential argument for “breach of contract”.
The 23-year-old found himself at the scene of a crime at 2.30am on Sunday, during a non-fatal shooting outside of Melbourne nightclub Love Machine on Chapel Street.
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Victoria Police is investigating the situation which saw a friend end up in a verbal altercation with another group before a fight broke out and a gun was fired.
Ugle-Hagan was a bystander in the situation and has been cleared of any wrongdoing by police.
But Lloyd believes the situation, including the time he was out, proves he can’t be trusted by an AFL club.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“My views last week, and I was strong on it, I don’t believe he’ll play another game of AFL football and I know you guys were surprised by that,” Lloyd told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“I used the word trust. I don’t trust him. I wouldn’t want him at my football club. That’s the view I have on someone who is disrespecting the game and is disrespecting the opportunity that he’s got, in my opinion.”
When asked how much Ugle-Hagan’s mental health issues should factor into the situation, Lloyd asked what steps he had taken to work through it, given he was once again out after 2am.
“What is he trying to do to fix that? 2.30 in the morning is not helping that. That’s where I feel the club has bent over backwards (for him). Is he just throwing it all back in their face?
“I hate seeing that. There are so many blokes who would give their left arm to get that opportunity.
“The money is going to run out and he’s going to ask himself in five to 10 years’ time – this is the sad part – ‘I wasted a golden opportunity to play AFL footy’.”
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Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Ugle-Hagan has one year left to run on his Bulldogs contract worth approximately $900,000, according to Nine AFL journalist Sam McClure.
Barrett made a point of “this type of behaviour”.
“They’ve paid him in full this year. The AFL and the AFLPA got involved and they are paying him his full rate for this year, but next year is a different story,” Barrett said.
“If they can get him off their books next year and not pay him, there’s $1m they can use next year on other players.
“He’s not living up to his contract. I would argue it is a breach of contract on many contracts that employers have in the general workforce … I feel there is a goodwill component and an AFL involvement (in paying him this year). I think it’s all bets off (next year).
“If he can’t commit to the contract he signed, he’s not playing football, he’s not even turning up to training, I’m talking about the football side of this, but you mentioned wrong time wrong place from a police perspective, but it’s wrong time wrong place from a football perspective at 2am on a Sunday.”
Ugle-Hagan will not feature at AFL or VFL for the Bulldogs in 2025, but has previously stated his intent to get back to playing at the top level.
