‘Better than half price’: Troubled Dog’s deal to be ‘torn up’ with plan for bargain player swap

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s AFL future is increasingly linked to a move to Gold Coast that would see his current contract “torn up”.

The No.1 pick from the 2020 National Draft has been urged behind closed doors at Whitten Oval to find a new home, after failing to take to the field this season as he deals with personal issues away from football.

The Suns are seen as the only rival club who will make a play for the 23-year-old, with talks amplifying last week when Ugle-Hagan visited the club’s facilities and met with officials.

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Speaking on Fox Footy’s Trading Day, host Jay Clark revealed the likely alterations to his playing contract should a deal be struck.

“Gold Coast will be able to pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan up on a significantly reduced deal,” Clark began.

“We know that Jamarra is on $800,000 or thereabouts at the Kennel, but that contract is almost certainly going to be ripped up, torn up, and there will be a fresh one at Gold Coast. That could be potentially half, maybe even less than half.

“Gold Coast, while they’re circling Christian Petracca, will have to pay the bulk of his $1.3m deal, they can get Jamarra Ugle-Hagan on peanuts (for) $300-400k. Let’s be honest, this is a bit of a throw at the stumps ... they’re not paying big money for Jamarra, this is going to be a ‘cheap as chips’ deal.

“When you consider that it’s probably going to be wound up in the Connor Budarick deal for maybe $300-400k (and) heavily games incentivised, is it a worthy addition?”

55-game Gold Coast utility Budarick requested a trade to the Bulldogs earlier this month, which Clark believes could help facilitate Ugle-Hagan finding a new home.

As of Tuesday October 6, Gold Coast hold draft picks 6, 14, 17, 35, 62, 73. There is no expectation the Suns would have to part ways with significant capital to secure the key forward.

“I think it’s certainly worth a crack, Damien Hardwick’s been big on this the whole way through,” Zita added.

“They’re certainly putting the onus on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to turn his life around and get back to good form. If he’s right, this could be a great pick-up ... it’s a big if.”

St Kilda great Leigh Montagna added: “It does make it easier to justify the risk ... I think it’s really interesting that it’s the Gold Coast Suns that are taking this gamble.

“From where they have come from to where they are now, the culture they’ve built, the list that they’ve got... I don’t think they necessarily need Jamarra.

“Obviously, they’re looking at the glass-half-full at getting the very best out of him.”

It has been widely reported that should a deal not be struck, the Bulldogs will opt to remove Ugle-Hagan from their playing list.

So far this off-season, Taylor Duryea has retired while Liam Jones and Anthony Scott have been delisted.

“I think if he stays at the Kennel, his career’s over — there’s no future for him there,” Clark ended by saying.

“He’s 23 Jamarra, he could play 10 (more) years of football. So, whilst this next year will be a much cheaper deal, this gives him a chance to extend his career.”

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