Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is turning heads at Gold Coast training, as he looks to rebuild his AFL career from scratch.
The Suns only had to give up pick 74 in the draft to acquire the former No.1 draft pick, after he missed the entire 2025 season with the Western Bulldogs due to off-field and mental health issues.
Ugle-Hagan spent parts of 2024 in a health clinic and was frequently reprimanded for missing training sessions.
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Head coach Damien Hardwick and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session. Getty
It got to the point where even when he returned to the club in the second half of the year, he never even played for their VFL side, with one assistant coach publicly doubting whether he would be in their best 22 reserves players.
However, there’s never been any doubt of the talent he possesses. The Bulldogs initially selected him with the No.1 pick in the 2020 draft via their next generation academy.
He would go on to kick 103 goals in 67 games for the Dogs, including 43 in 2024 in what felt like the beginning of a breakout season.
Gold Coast Damien Hardwick reportedly pushed hard to bring Ugle-Hagan to the club, despite the issues that made it impossible for him to return to the Bulldogs in 2026.
The 23-year-old is living with Suns staffer and former player Jarrod Harbrow, with the club watching his off-field behaviour closely.
Ugle-Hagan had a contract worth close to $1m with the Bulldogs for 2026, but that was ripped up to facilitate the move to Gold Coast on a one-year deal reportedly worth $250,000 that includes a trigger for a second season.
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd stated late in the 2025 season that he struggled to see the forward playing again at AFL level.
But the signs are good early days on the Gold Coast. He looks fit and ready to be a wildcard in their pursuit of an inaugural premiership.
A chase down tackle at training on reigning Brownlow Medallist Matt Rowell excited everyone in attendance, with coaches expressing huge support for the key forward after the big defensive effort.
Ugle-Hagan chases down Rowell at training. Instagram
The Suns posted the clip to social media, with senior SEN AFL journalist Sam Edmund replying “looks fit!”.
Former Richmond and North Melbourne player Bigoa Nyuon posted “fine I’ll buy a (Suns) membership”.
Gold Coast had the busiest off-season of any team, even discounting the addition of Ugle-Hagan.
They brought in Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca. A proven finals star and big-game midfielder who provides another attacking weapon and takes pressure off Rowell, Noah Anderson and Touk Miller on-ball.
Christian Petracca in a Gold Coast guernsey. Getty
Thanks to their academy, they also added potentially the two best players in the draft in midfielder Zeke Uwland and dashing half back Dylan Patterson. Both could have a huge impact from day one.
On top of that, they brought in two more first round draftees in Beau Addinsall and Jai Murray, also via their academy.
To achieve all of that, they had to shed players and future draft assets. They lost talented midfielder Sam Flanders to St Kilda and reliable forward Ben Ainsworth to Carlton.
Forward Malcom Rosas Jr was traded to Sydney, midfielder Brayden Fiorini signed with Essendon and defender Connor Budarick joined the Bulldogs.
But including this year’s quartet, Gold Coast has now brought in nine first round picks into their club via their academy in the last three years.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session. Getty
All of this to say, the club is stacked with talent on every line coming off their first finals win in club history.
And if Ugle-Hagan is a genuine factor in 2026 and is able to put his career back on the trajectory it was on pre-2025, it’s a scary thought for the rest of the competition.
That is particularly the case when you consider the stacked forward line they could put together with Ben King and rising young key forwards Jed Walter and Ethan Read.
Of course, it’s December and there’s still a ton of water to go under the bridge. Ugle-Hagan has a lot of work to do to be there for Gold Coast come Opening Round.