How ex-No. 1 pick could land staggering $15m payday as AFL’s ‘biggest ever deal’ looms

Bulldogs’ young gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is tipped to become the “highest paid player” in the AFL when he signs a new deal next season, Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna believes.

Contracted until the end of 2024, Ugle-Hagan is set to become the biggest talking point of next season as the former number one draft pick decides his future.

Given teammate Aaron Naughton signed a monster eight-year contract extension at the Dogs, reportedly knocking back an even bigger 10-year, $11 million deal from the Swans, Montagna believes Ugle-Hagan will fetch a higher bid.

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“I think nearly every club in the competition will come after Jamarra Ugle-Hagan next year,” he said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.

“I think there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be the highest paid player or get the biggest deal we’ve ever seen in AFL history next year.

“You’ve got to take into consideration the increase in the salary cap.

“He’ll get a long term deal.

“I think he’d be getting an eight- to 10-year deal at up towards $1.5 million a year with the increase in the cap.

“He’ll have the biggest deal in the history of football at some stage next year.”

But the question is where.

Ugle-Hagan was likened to now-retired Swans great Lance Franklin before he was even drafted in 2020.

And now with Sydney holding plenty of salary cap room, Ugle-Hagan could be the man the Swans go after to replace Franklin.

Fox Footy’s Nick Dal Santo said there was no doubt Ugle-Hagan would be demanding something similar to his fellow key forward Naughton.

“It’s almost apples for apples,” he said of the Dogs’ duo.

“Yes, Jamarra is younger than Aaron Naughton is, but if that’s what Aaron Naughton is going to get, surely he has to be something similar – if not more.”

Fox Footy’s David Zita said weighing into the discussion is the fact the Bulldogs still need to get other deals done in 2024, with the likes of Tim English and Bailey Smith also out of contract.

“They’ve got so many big names to sign up the Western Bulldogs,” he said.

“They ticked off one of them with Aaron Naughton with that mega eight-year deal.

“Jamarra Ugle-Hagan entering the final year of his deal next year – he’s going to be probably the most sought after player in the competition next year, given what his output has been this year, his development as pick one. He’s got so much upside. So much more untapped potential.

“He is someone who is going to have some significant offers.”