Troubled forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is taking extended leave from the Western Bulldogs to deal with personal issues away from the AFL spotlight.
The former No.1 draft pick has not played a game this season, and there is no immediate indication on when or if he will return to the club.
Ugle-Hagan has not been a regular face at Whitten Oval, with Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge saying the 23-year-old’s playing future was in the hands of the AFL.
The Western Bulldogs, in a statement released on Tuesday, said the decision had been reached in conjunction with Ugle-Hagan, his family, his management and the AFL.
“Jamarra’s health and wellbeing remains the absolute priority and he will be given whatever time he needs,” football executive manager Sam Power said.
“We will continue to support Jamarra throughout this period.”
The top draft pick in 2020, Ugle-Hagan last played for the Bulldogs in the 2024 elimination final.
Carlton will lose midfielder Adam Cerra for one match, while North Melbourne will head to the AFL Tribunal to challenge a three-game suspension handed to forward Paul Curtis.
Cerra had collected Geelong player Jack Bowes high in the third quarter of Carlton’s 18-point win at the MCG on Sunday.
The incident was graded as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact, resulting in a one-game suspension handed down on Monday.
However, the Blues will challenge the suspension at the AFL Tribunal.
The Blues are already sweating the fitness of forward Zac Williams, who was forced out of the game in the first term with a calf injury.
Carlton teammates George Hewett and Jack Silvagni and Geelong star Jeremy Cameron were handed fines for careless contact with an umpire, while Lachlan Fogarty was handed a financial sanction for tripping.
North Melbourne star Paul Curtis will also face the Tribunal on Tuesday night to fight his ban for rough conduct.
Curtis tackled Port Adelaide defender Josh Sinn in the second quarter of the Kangaroos’ nine-point loss, pinning his opponent’s arms from behind.
With Sinn suffering a concussion, Curtis’s tackle was graded as severe impact, high contact and careless conduct.
The forward is currently ruled out of the games against Essendon, Brisbane and Richmond.
Curtis, enjoying a rich vein of form, starred against Port with three goals and boasts 18 so far this season for the 17th-placed North.
North Melbourne will also fight a $1000 fine handed to captain Jy Simpkin for instigating a melee with former teammate Jason Horne-Francis.
Curtis, Simpkin and Cerra will be joined at the Tribunal by Adelaide’s Mitch Hinge, who is challenging a one-match ban for striking Fremantle star Andrew Brayshaw.
Port’s Horne-Francis copped a $1875 fine for his second such offence.
Polarising Hawthorn player Jack Ginnivan was handed a $6250 fine after their 50-point win over West Coast for what was his second offence of kicking.
Eagles midfielder Liam Baker was fined $1500 for misconduct against Mabior Chol.
Port Adelaide leader Sam Powell-Pepper has dismissed calls to drop Jason Horne-Francis after the star midfielder tried to turn away from an “emotional” mid-game discussion with coach Ken Hinkley.
Horne-Francis took centre-stage in Port’s nine-point win over his former side North Melbourne, but it was his actions off the ball that put him under the spotlight.
The 21-year-old sparked a melee following a tangle with North captain Jy Simpkin late in the third quarter, giving up a double 50m penalty which ended in a goal for the Kangaroos.
Then called into a discussion at the final break, Horne-Francis went to turn away from Hinkley mid-sentence before being pulled back by Port captain Connor Rozee and co-captain Zak Butters.
Powell-Pepper, also part of the Port leadership group, acknowledged Horne-Francis had struggled with his emotions but didn’t see his interaction with Hinkley as a droppable offence.
“Obviously, it was a bit of an emotional situation, but I feel like the leaders in Connor and Butsy really stood up in that moment and really helped Jason,” Powell-Pepper said on Monday.
“You can see by the way he came out in that last quarter that he really responded. I don’t think I’d go as far as dropping him because he’s such a big part of our team.
“I’m really proud of the way that he responded and hopefully he can keep being that competitive beast that he is.”
Horne-Francis has already been punished by the match review officer, handed a $1875 fine for instigating a melee for the second time. Simpkin was fined $1000 for the same offence, but North will head to the tribunal to challenge the sanction.
Powell-Pepper said playing with emotion “can be detrimental in some moments”. “But I do love playing with Horney,” he said.
“Whether he gives a few free kicks away every now and then, doesn’t really bother me. It just shows that he cares and he wants to win, and that’s what I love about him.
“It can be hard, but I think it’s better than just going within yourself and going cold. I’d rather have someone on my team that’s up and about, and wants to fight back and respond.”
Powell-Pepper, after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament early last year, will play his 150th match when he lines up against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.
with AAP
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Jimmy Webster bumped Blake Acres after his shoulder gave way - but according to Acres, it helped!
Carlton fans would have been forgiven for thinking they'd seen this movie before. A white-hot start featuring slick ball movement, a dominant midfield and…
Better luck next time!
That's what we call sinking the slipper into it!
After a slow 0-4 start, Carlton have found form and got their mojo back, winning their last three games, most impressively so far defeating…
