They’ve looked after me’: Dogs young gun’s huge call as $15m payday hangs over future
Talented youngster Jamarra Ugle-Hagan wants to stay at the Western Bulldogs – as a massive contract calls looms that could see the No.1 pick become the “highest paid player in the AFL”.
The Bulldogs will have to get creative in 2024, after locking away Aaron Naughton on a long-term, big money deal as Ugle-Hagan, ruck Tim English and star Bailey Smith all come out of contract next year.
Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna believes Ugle-Hagan could command the biggest pay day at the club, as rivals circle.
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“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 said last month on Trading Day.
“He’ll have the biggest deal in the history of football at some stage next year.”
Speaking to 7NEWS, Ugle-Hagan said he wanted to repay the faith the Bulldogs had shown him since his teenage years, as a member of the club’s Next Generation Academy.
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“I love the Dogs – they’ve obviously looked after me since I was 15,” he said.
“I always love to give back to the club.
“We’ve got such a good opportunity to win a couple of flags together.
“We’ve got a really talented list. Definitely stay at the Dogs.”
To stay in Footscray would likely require a salary sacrifice given cashed-up clubs like Sydney are expected to come hard for the 21-year-old.
“I think nearly every club in the competition will come after Jamarra Ugle-Hagan next year,” Montagna said.
“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.”
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Footy commentator Kane Cornes believes Ugle-Hagan could “almost write his own cheque at another club” should he wish to entertain rival offers.
“We’ve seen Sydney and how they’re just so desperate to get a forward. We’ve read reports with the Herald Sun about Hawthorn and their interest in him,” he said on SEN.
“He can go for big offers.
“For the Western Bulldogs, do they pay on what he’s done or do they pay on what they think he will be?
“There’s a juggling act for them to fit everyone in.”
The chances of retaining restricted free agent English received a boost last month after his partner Rudi Ellis opted not to re-sign with WA’s professional netball team the West Coast Fever – with a move to Melbourne reportedly on the cards.
That could leave Smith as the odd-man out come a big-money deal, given the monster eight-year contract already signed by Naughton.
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