The Western Bulldogs have been urged to not “let history repeat” itself and let go Jamarra Ugle-Hagan on the cheap like they did with Bailey Smith.
Ugle-Hagan’s future at Whitten Oval is in question, with Dogs coach Luke Beveridge unable to say when the former No. 1 pick will return to the field as the gun forward works through personal issues.
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It includes reports of strained relationships between Ugle-Hagan, who’s contracted until 2026, and others at the Dogs.
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It comes as Smith starred in his first game for Geelong since being traded from the Dogs last off-season for just Pick 17.
And with growing expecting that Ugle-Hagan, 22, could follow Smith out the door at the end of this season, chief Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark warned the Dogs against getting unders in a trade again.
“Don’t let history repeat at the Kennel,” Clark began on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.
“Bailey Smith has been one of the biggest stories from the weekend, he was outstanding. You reflect back on this trade, yes off a year out of the game because of his knee injury.
“But you tell me if this man … in hindsight is worth Pick 17.
“The Dogs said at the time they were a bit cornered, he only wanted to go to one club and there were some personal issues at play.”
As pointed out by Clark, the Dogs got “nearly three times as much” in the Josh Dunkley trade with Brisbane in 2022 that saw them acquire two first-round picks and a second rounder.
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It’s believed rival clubs are currently weighing up a move for Ugle-Hagan and speculating his trade price, but the Dogs aren’t expected to surrender him for cheap.
“The Western Bulldogs, having been burnt last year on the Bailey Smith trade, don’t want to give him for unders,” Clark continued.
“Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was a Pick 1 and who knows how many games he’s going to play this year, there’s so much water to go under the bridge.
“But I suspect the Western Bulldogs will play as hard ball as you possibly can despite all the personal issues.”
Clark suggested that, unless a “commensurate player” is involved, the Dogs would need to receive a single figure draft pick back “to be anywhere near trade value” for Ugle-Hagan.
“He still seems fit and happy. The Bulldogs have put in a lot of work and all the mail suggests they want to keep him at this football club,” Clark added.
“And he is contracted. Different to Bailey Smith, who was uncontracted and they were a bit corned.
“If he is to go, as probably 90 per cent of the clubs believe at this point, they want some value. It will be hard ball with Sam Power this time.
“Have a look at the situation at Melbourne. They kept Clayton Oliver and gave him a big hug and were able to sort out those issues.
“I don’t think there will be a Western Bulldogs fire sale on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, that’s probably the expectation in club land at the moment.”
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