Should the Suns continue to pursue Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who also met with the club’s coaches and senior players on Wednesday, that might open up conversations around other senior Suns players for trade.
Pending the feedback from senior players and coaches on the Ugle Hagan meeting, the Suns will decide whether to continue to pursue the former No.1 draft pick.
Ugle-Hagan missed the entire AFL season this year through injury, fitness and personal issues, and a source with knowledge of the situation said the Suns would ask the AFL for full disclosure on any, and all, issues connected to Ugle-Hagan that might affect his ability to play next year.
Those close to Ugle-Hagan say getting out of Victoria would be good for the talented, dynamic tall forward. He spent time at a health retreat in Queensland in the middle of this year.
Should the Suns pursue Ugle-Hagan – at this stage, they appear his only suitor – they would seek to strike their own new contract with the player and leave his management to settle the outstanding terms with the Western Bulldogs.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan trained sparingly with the Western Bulldogs this year.Credit: Eddie Jim
That is, the Suns would offer their own contract and the Bulldogs either reach a settlement with Ugle-Hagan for the remainder of his contract with them, or the Dogs pay the balance between any Suns offer and the residual amount on his contract.
Ugle-Hagan did not play football at any level in 2025 as he dealt with a range of issues from his fitness and health to personal and family matters. His training during the year was sporadic.
After missing the finals in 2025, the Western Bulldogs will reconvene on Wednesday night for their best and fairest vote count – the Charles Sutton Medal.
Loading
Last month Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said he was hopeful Ugle-Hagan would return to playing AFL in 2026 but did not commit to that being at his club, where the talented forward remains contracted for one more season on about $800,000.
“We haven’t seen him for a couple of weeks. He’s been home dealing with some stuff on the mission,” Beveridge said.
“It seems like he’s healthy enough, and he’s still training on. I’m just hoping for him that the end of it all is there’s an opportunity for him to play AFL footy next year.”
– Michael Gleeson
$5m sign-on pool and a bounty of draft picks: Tassie’s list concessions
The AFL’s bid to make the Tasmania Devils competitive from day one have been revealed, including giving the fledgling club a signing bonus pool of $5 million to secure star talent from rivals.
The list concessions, rubber-stamped by the AFL Commission last week, also include having the Devils trade six of their11 first-round draft picks across their first three years in the AFL.
On the move: Tasmania Devils and their chief executive Brendon Gale now have a clear picture of their list concessions.Credit: Artwork: Stephen Kiprillis
They have been given picks Nos.1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13, and the first selection of each subsequent round in their first draft, which is expected to be in 2027, ahead of their AFL debut in 2028.
Four of these picks – Nos.5, 7, 11 and 13 – will need to be used in trades.
Loading
In their second and third drafts, the Devils will have their own first-round selection, as well as being handed picks Nos.5 and 9 in each year. However, the No.5 pick must be traded. They will also have the first selection in each subsequent round.
The Devils will have multiple years to trade those picks, allowing them to be used in the ensuing two national drafts.
While a bonus signing pool had been floated, that the pool is up to $5 million will ensure the Devils are an attractive option for established talent willing to make a move.
Collingwood star Nick Daicos told this masthead this year that he wouldn’t rule out a move to Tasmania.
“I’d never rule anything out. It’s hard to picture, obviously, it’s so far away – but I’m very happy at Collingwood now,” he said.
The Devils will have two years to snare up to 18 uncontracted players as free agents from rival clubs, with a maximum of one player per club. Clubs that lose uncontracted players will be handed compensation picks in return.
In a statement, the AFL said the list concessions given to the Devils will be subject to review, depending on any changes to the overall draft system.
The Devils continue to search for a senior coach, with Collingwood great Nathan Buckley among the candidates.
– Jon Pierik
