Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has addressed the depths of his mental health battles while sidelined from the AFL this year.

The 23-year-old has returned to training with the Western Bulldogs but will need to put in weeks of work before being being considered for a return via the VFL.

The start of his comeback has arrived with the declaration that he is doing better, while opening up on the challenges of his year to date.

Ugle-Hagan spent time at a health retreat in northern NSW after having suicidal thoughts “pretty frequently”.

“All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health,” Ugle-Hagan told former AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson on their podcast.

“It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate so I couldn’t drive. I just didn’t trust myself driving.

“There were times when I would think about, to be honest with you, just not even worth even living.

“I went through a struggle where I didn’t want to leave the house. I hit rock bottom, and found basement.”

Ugle-Hagan said he “felt like I was on my own the whole time”.

“When you are down you want to keep finding an upper. My upper was probably staying and hanging out with my mates and getting on the p*** and training with them as well,” he said.

“But it just had no end goal, I didn’t have a game. I didn’t have anything.

“My mental health wasn’t in the right space so I was struggling, and I found it really tough to even enjoy football.

“I lost the fun in it. I didn’t want to play, it wasn’t even a priority because all I wanted to do was find something.

“But I didn’t know what that was until I have had this break.”

Ugle-Hagan also wasn’t fighting his own battles during his time out.

He missed the Bulldogs’ centenary match earlier this year while helping out a friend in need.

“My best mate rang me on the phone and was about to take his own life and I had to call him out of it, while he was in Warrnambool,” he said.

“He come up that weekend and spent it with me and the game was on, that is why I didn’t go.”

The AFL would need to approve Ugle-Hagan’s comeback because he has been under the league’s mental health plan since taking leave.

He has been at the centre of AFL trade speculation throughout the year, while the Bulldogs have also been urged to put all their eggs in the Sam Darcy basket.

However, Dogs coach Luke Beveridge recently swatted away suggestions they could part ways.

“I’ve got no thoughts that he won’t be here next year,” Beveridge said.

Ugle-Hagan, who came through the club’s next-gen academy, thinks likewise.

He describes CEO Ameet Bains as “my brother” and “one of my good mates”, as are his teammates.

“I still want to play for them and I want to win a flag,” Ugle-Hagan said.

“It’s the Bulldogs until my contract runs out and then hopefully they offer me another one, but we will see how we go.

“They have given me opportunities since day dot, so why can’t I get back?”

His contract expires at the end of next year.