St Kilda’s shock backflip leaves GWS Giant Leek Aleer stranded, West Coast Eagle Liam Ryan traded to Saints, Western Bulldog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan closes in on Gold Coast Suns

The most likely scenario for Aleer at this stage is for the Giants to welcome him back, but there is also the possibility of another club emerging as a suitor.

The Saints secured former Carlton pair Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni in free agency and traded the seventh pick for Gold Coast’s Sam Flanders.

Aleer was looking for bigger senior opportunities but solidified his role in Adam Kingsley’s defense by the end of the season, playing in 13 of the Giants’ last 14 games, including the finale against the Hawks.

Ugle-Hagan took another step towards reviving his AFL career on the Gold Coast by meeting senior club officials at the club on Thursday morning.

Before completing his medical at the Suns, Ugle-Hagan said he would always love the Dogs but was looking forward to living with the Gold Coast’s Indigenous liaison officer, Jarrod Harbrow.

“I still need to tick a few little boxes. Let’s see what happens from there,” Ugle-Hagan told Nine News. “HE [Harbrow] “He is an incredible character who will support me.”

Ugle-Hagan’s Suns contract will include behavioral clauses that will give the Suns the option to terminate his contract at the club’s discretion after the player struggled with well-documented off-field issues for a year.

Although a trade with the Bulldogs and a potential payout should be finalized in the coming days, all parties agreed that Ugle-Hagan would become a Suns player at the end of the trade window, with rival sources declining to speak publicly about contract negotiations.

Ugle-Hagan’s contract will be a heavily incentive two-year deal with a minimum amount guaranteed.

The 23-year-old player’s salary in 2026 will look closer to the salary he received in his first season after being selected with the first pick in the 2020 national draft.

But he will be capable of winning significantly more based on games played, goals scored and best and fairest results.

Suns defenseman Connor Budarick is expected to join the Bulldogs at the trade deadline. However, it remains to be seen whether he will be part of the deal to acquire Ugle-Hagan.

Ugle-Hagan, who is under contract with the Western Bulldogs for 2026, has more than $900,000 left on his contract for next season.

His manager Robbie D’Orazio will now negotiate a payout with the Bulldogs, but it remains to be seen how much the Dogs would be willing to pay.

Ugle-Hagan did not play any games in 2025 and was only able to practice a few times after numerous off-field issues.

Gold Coast general manager of talent and player strategy Craig Cameron provided an update on the Suns’ position on Thursday morning.

“We’re looking for someone who will commit to getting himself back into a position where he can play consistent football,” Cameron said on AFL Trade Radio.

“The No. 1 issue is: Do we think a fit and healthy Jamarra can help us as a football club?

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“He’s spoken to our leadership group. He’ll do a medical with us today and we need to get the AFL to sign off on that, but we’re making progress on that.”

Cameron said the Suns have a strong Indigenous community, which could potentially help with this move. Ugle-Hagan was in the Indigenous All Stars match against Fremantle in February.

“Western Bulldogs are a really good football club and nothing I say is meant to be malicious…” Cameron said.

“I think the fact that we’re not in Victoria, we’re outside the football bubble and we’re away from some of the elements that probably took Jamarra away from the path he needed to be in is a good place for him to start rebuilding his football career.”

More to come

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