One thing I hate is the term ‘mental health card’. As someone that has experienced my own battles with mental health, I get pretty saddened by some of the flippant remarks that are made in this place. The suicide statistics in this country are staggering and the number of men that take their own lives is an absolute tragedy. Many I’m sure don’t seek help in the early stages for fear of the stigma still associated with it and the outdated notion of what a ‘real man’ should be. Mental health challenges are as complex as they are diverse. Expecting rational decisions from non-rational brains is a path to disappointment.
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The Jamarra Thread
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Should probably preface it with this is his opinion ... because he has been peddling it all along with no actual facts.
It was only 2 weeks ago the story was "if he wants to leave Victoria".
Now it's fact
Following up my previous post. I long ago realised I wanted to be one of the men that blazed a trail for others by speaking openly about my mental health issues. If not me, then who? I have a wife and children, I have a well-paid job, I have a family home and an investment property, I have a comfortable financial position, and I have friends and family that care about me. I’ve also suffered from anxiety most of my life and had periods of depression, particularly after the birth of both my children. Why do I say these things? It’s simple, it’s to show that mental health (like cancer) does not care about your life status, financial position or other circumstances. This is why I struggle when I read comments from people conflating a high salary with positive mental health. e.g. player x is paid far more than any of us and should therefore play well every week and also try having some real problems in life. Fortunately these views don’t appear to be the majority. I know this isn’t the right thread for this discussion but given the nature of the discussion in here I felt like it was the best place right now.
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So he was the victim of a sex crime?
Just wait for Trade Radio we will have 2 weeks of Rumours and FactsShould probably preface it with this is his opinion ... because he has been peddling it all along with no actual facts.
It was only 2 weeks ago the story was "if he wants to leave Victoria".
Now it's fact
Wow, not sure it reaches the level of ‘will seek a trade’
I laughed when I read the story it’s been said on here for weeks that JUH wants to play but the club wants him to do a block of training.Wow, not sure it reaches the level of ‘will seek a trade’
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Bevo has a lot of time for Jay Clark. I'm not sure if that's worth anything when viewing the stories that Clark shares, but we're not talking a journalist here that wouldn't reach out to the club before running with an opinion piece or story.
That was certainly my understanding too. Nothing but an effort for clicks.
Angak
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Should probably preface it with this is his opinion ... because he has been peddling it all along with no actual facts.
It was only 2 weeks ago the story was "if he wants to leave Victoria".
Now it's fact
There are too many fractured relationships at the Dogs for things to remain healthy or sustainable for Marra long term. Add to that the clear benefits of a fresh start interstate... away from the off field influences that have contributed to some of his struggles, and it’s hard not to see his future lying elsewhere, likely Sydney.
If I’ve read it wrong, feel free to remind me when the trade period wraps up in October.
Norm De Guerre
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If Jay can make a post out of things that are known and obvious.
Then so can I.
I said a number of weeks back that we'll have a better idea about Jamarra future looking at how the club uses him before the end of the season. If we park him and kick the can down the road for the entire year against his protestations then it's a good indication that he'll be traded out.
Call it the Bailey Smith clause if you will.
Having said that having a club sanctioned week away from the club is going to set back any return to VFL level.
What is certain is that he needs to complete a club mandated bloc of training before anything can move forward.
I would speculate that the club would be very unwilling to hand Jamarra another contract, or at least anything close to what Jamarra himself would actually want. A long term future at the Dogs seems fairly unlikely.
Wouldn't surprise me if Marra also saw himself as being above coming back via the VFL and may be upset by being told that's what he has to do. It may be in his mind that the club is the one setting up obstacles impeding his return to playing AFL footy, causing frustration.
With sympathy to what he's going through (a process that nobody should expect to be a smooth sailing and that's ok), his future at the club is going to be based on risk tolerance and the state of his relationships with certain people (how many bridges has he burned?), not emotions or feel good stories. As much as I think he's a good young talent, of which we've already lost enough of lately, and ideally I would like him to be at the Dogs long term.
Jay Clark may not know anything but it's kind of a safe guess. If someone actually offered us a return for Marra we'd be happy with, we'd do the deal in a heartbeat. Highly doubt we'll be prepared to table him a 5+ year deal in 2026 after everything that's happened. Does anyone? All it takes is just one club though. And realistically we know these talks are happening now, agents don't politely wait for players to finish their contracts.
We will explore it, but it's a matter of what return we might get in 2025 (how desperate is Sydney?) vs uncontracted in 2026 (do we get to play him in the side and boost his value?).
Wouldn't surprise me if Marra also saw himself as being above coming back via the VFL and may be upset by being told that's what he has to do. It may be in his mind that the club is the one setting up obstacles impeding his return to playing AFL footy, causing frustration.
With sympathy to what he's going through (a process that nobody should expect to be a smooth sailing and that's ok), his future at the club is going to be based on risk tolerance and the state of his relationships with certain people (how many bridges has he burned?), not emotions or feel good stories. As much as I think he's a good young talent, of which we've already lost enough of lately, and ideally I would like him to be at the Dogs long term.
Jay Clark may not know anything but it's kind of a safe guess. If someone actually offered us a return for Marra we'd be happy with, we'd do the deal in a heartbeat. Highly doubt we'll be prepared to table him a 5+ year deal in 2026 after everything that's happened. Does anyone? All it takes is just one club though. And realistically we know these talks are happening now, agents don't politely wait for players to finish their contracts.
We will explore it, but it's a matter of what return we might get in 2025 (how desperate is Sydney?) vs uncontracted in 2026 (do we get to play him in the side and boost his value?).
Dogs_R_Us
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My father-in-law was very insistent that he wouldn't talk to anyone about his mental health because being a man means being tough and stoic. He took his life in 2018 and there's a hole in our lives where he should be.
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I lost a brother and both parents before I was 25.
I’m mid fifties now and happily married with two kids and a good career.
I don’t know how I survived looking back at all the stupid stuff I have done under the influence. Self medicating was the only way I could deal with the pain.
I wish I was man enough to deal with it correctly back in the day but I just didn’t know how and it wasn’t talked about much back then.
I can’t imagine how hard it would have been if I was under the scrutiny Jamarra is. I don’t think I would have made it.
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Thanks Hobdog
As someone who's life has taken some unexpected turns in the past 11 months, I plumbed the depths of despair late last year. Still not in a good space now, but better than I was. I'm pretty flippant on here, and with most other people. Apart from my lovely lady and kids, I've been lucky to have 4 close mates and a relative and her partner checking in on me regularly.
I won't lie, one day late last year one of my mates called me as I was down the back of our rural property with some very dark thoughts and overwhelmed by the apparent insurmountable challenges. I nearly didn't answer that call. But I did. And I'm still here.
This year has been only fractionally better than last, but my support crew have got me through. I'm still frustrated with life (probably reflected in some of my angry posting on here and unnecessary fights I've picked on this board and SRP). But funnily enough being angry has kept my mind on footy, world affairs, and away from what at times was an unfathomable sadness. I also use humour a lot to mask my true feelings.
But a while back, I told my family and my 6 support crew how important they all were to me. But they also told me how important I am to them. (Most of them are life-long, or as good as, friendships.)
Having those conversations was one of the best things I've ever done.
Stay strong Hobdog and keep talking openly.
You're a legend.
I'm sure it was linked here. But just for your and others information mate. Thanks for admitting your mistake.
Ugle-Hagan opens up on mental health struggle, future at the Dogs - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1348703
Thanks mate, really appreciate that
Mate, that is an extraordinarily courageous thing to do to tell your story so openly. It’s a huge reminder of how a conversation (that you almost didn’t have with your friend) can make a huge difference. The more men speak up and put their hand up, the more progress is made in saving lives. I think people often assume that mental illness is cured like some other health conditions but the reality is that it is not always a linear path back to health, rather it’s a day to day experience of managing it. One of the biggest things that has helped me in the last six years is running. That’s where I find my calm and the answers are always out on the running track. I hope things keep improving further you little by little and day by day. Take some comfort in the fact you’re not alone in the fight. You’re a star
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