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Trade talk: Is Suns' Jamarra interest preparation for life after Ben King?
SEN • September 25th, 2025 5:39 pm
AFL.com.au Queensland journalist Michael Whiting has confirmed the rumours surrounding Gold Coast’s interest in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
The troubled Bulldogs star failed to make an appearance at any level across 2025, having dealt with a range of personal issues that saw the key forward step away from the club indefinitely.
The 23-year-old sat through his exit meeting with the Bulldogs earlier this week, with neither he nor the club placing any definitive interest in a trade, however as reported by Sam Edmund, it’s understood that the former No.1 pick is unlikely to play in the red, white and blue again.
Speaking on the rumours of Gold Coast’s interest, Whiting confirmed that the murmurs are true, and it remains a watch ahead of the 2025 trade period.
“I’ve loosely heard it,” Whiting told SEN Sportsday.
“Clearly if you can get what you think is a high level forward with a high ceiling, they’re going to look at it.
“I’m interested to see what they do there, because they’ve got high hopes for (Ethan) Read, they’ve clearly got high hopes for (Jed) Walter as well, but clearly Damien Hardwick’s not convinced in Jed Walter just yet.
“I’m not sure how far they’ll get with exploring trades for other key forwards, but it’s certainly a watch in a part of the ground they’re not 100 per cent sold on yet.”
Whiting was asked as to whether the Suns were looking at Ugle-Hagan as potential cover for star Ben King, in the unlikely circumstances that the Victorian key forward decides to move elsewhere.
King has expressed interest in a potential move back home over past years, with his contract running out at the end of the 2026 season.
“You might look at it that way, and that question seemingly with Ben King has come up every single year since he was drafted to the club,” Whiting said.
“The same question comes up with Matt Rowell, and that’s understandable. I certainly haven’t sensed any concern from Gold Coast that Ben King will stay beyond next year.
“It could be a backup, but I don’t see it that way at the moment.”
Whiting also confirmed that wantaway midfielder Sam Flanders has more than likely played his final game for the Suns, having requested a trade during his exit meeting last week.
With interest from several Victorian clubs, Flanders has commenced a range of meetings with potential suitors seeking his services in 2026.
“I think (he will leave). It certainly sounds like that; there’s a lot of clubs in Melbourne that are aggressively chatting to him and pursuing him.
“I don’t think he was thrilled with the way this year went for him, and his body certainly played a part in that. He had back problems during the pre-season, and I don’t think he was ever 100 per cent fit through the year.
“Damien Hardwick probably didn’t use him in the midfield as much as Flanders would have liked, so it looks like he’ll end up somewhere else, that’s for sure.”
