Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has labelled Jamarra Ugle-Hagan “fortunate” that Gold Coast seems willing to give him a shot next season.
The Bulldogs have moved on from the controversial key forward, who did not play a game in 2025 dealing with behavioural and mental health issues.
The former No.1 pick has met with the Suns and negotiations will continue across the trade period, with Gold Coast needing to weigh up whether to take the risk.
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Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is seen during the 2025 AFL Indigenous All Stars match. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Ugle-Hagan is incredibly talented and at his best looked like a future star of the competition.
However, he eroded trust at the Bulldogs to the point where they have no interest in him returning to the club, despite being contracted for 2026.
Lloyd has previously stated his belief that Ugle-Hagan wouldn’t be playing AFL footy next season and believes he is incredibly lucky that the Suns are potentially going to roll the dice with him.
“Next year he would be on $800,000 with the Dogs and has one year left of his contract. What happens there? It would be great if he went to the Suns on a base salary of $100,000. That would really show his commitment,” Lloyd told Nine’s The Trade Off.
“I think if the Suns pull out and don’t take him, the VFL is where he’ll be playing his footy next year.
“I just think he is so fortunate and lucky that somebody like the Suns are willing to give him that opportunity.”
Former Geelong star Jimmy Bartel believes if Ugle-Hagan truly wants to return, and this Gold Coast deal falls over, he should embrace a year in a state league competition like the VFL.
“I think if he misses out on this Gold Coast chance, but is still ambitious to play football, I think he can still set himself up really well,” Bartel said.
“If he goes and gets as fit as he’s ever gotten, if he embraces VFL football, kicks goals, there would be a lot of clubs lining up for him.
“If he’s excited to get back into footy, I think if the Suns don’t take him, there’s still great opportunities there for him if he wants it.
“If it means he plays a year of VFL, he’ll have six or seven clubs all over him.”
Ugle-Hagan has played 67 games for the Bulldogs since being selected with the No.1 pick in the 2020 draft.