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“Hard to say”: Suns make no Jamarra guarantees
Andrew Slevison • January 27th, 2026 12:58 pm
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is doing everything in his power to force his way in at the Gold Coast Suns.
After a tumultuous 2025 which coincided with his Western Bulldogs exit, the 23-year-old has hit the ground running up north.
Suns assistant Shaun Grigg says the former No.1 draft pick is fitting in well during his first pre-season in red and gold.
“To his credit he’s showed up and earned the respect of everyone so far,” Grigg told SEN Breakfast.
“He’s put his head down and worked really hard. His football ability - he’s shown us at times what he can do.
“For him he’s got to keep building on his fitness, keep building on our game style, how we’d like to play and put his best foot forward in the coming weeks to see how close he can get.”
Despite all the hype and Ugle-Hagan’s undoubted footy ability, there are no guarantees for a starting spot against Geelong in Opening Round on March 6.
“It’s hard to say at this stage for us. As we get more match practice in it will be up to the players to put their hands up,” Grigg added.
“We feel we’ve got a really deep squad that makes it a really difficult operation for us coaches to pick the best 23.
“Also with how the new five on the bench is going to work. We’ve got some things to figure out before we play the Cats.”
Ugle-Hagan’s arrival provides a selection headache for Damien Hardwick and his coaches who already have Ben King, Jed Walter and Ethan Read as key forward options.
“It will be interesting, if they’re all fit and firing it’s certainly a tough call for us coaches,” replied Grigg when asked if four talls can work.
“As we’re getting into some more match practice we can toy with those players and see what the best look is.
“They’re flexible players who are all coming on. Jed Walter with another year in the system, Ben King we’ve seen improvement every year, and Jamarra has come in and hasn’t put a foot wrong. He’s building his fitness and getting to know our game style nicely.”
Joining Jamarra on the Gold Coast in the off-season was traded Melbourne star Christian Petracca who is flourishing in a new environment as he prepares for his 12th AFL season.
“Christian has been awesome since coming up,” Grigg said of the four-time All-Australian.
“What I’ve been most impressed by is his willingness to get better and learn some new roles and a totally new system that he’s not used to. He’s excited by that.
“I think he’s going to be a damaging asset for us going through the midfield and spending time forward.”
At the other end of the ground, the Suns will get a “new recruit” in 2026.
Charlie Ballard suffered a ruptured ACL in Round 1 last year which forced him out for the remainder of 2025.
But he is working his way back to help strengthen an improving defensive unit.
“Charlie has been building his training and he’ll look to integrate into the full match stuff in the next couple of weeks,” added Grigg.
“All things going well he’ll be available early in the year. He’s done a power of work off that ACL.
“He’s someone that we missed throughout the year. He’ll be like a new recruit for us.”
Ballard has played 134 games for the Suns including 23 in each of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Grigg also commented on several other Suns players.
Zeke Uwland
“He’s got a lot of good traits, that’s for sure. He’s a beautiful left-foot kick and has great running ability.
“We’ve had him in the Academy for a number of years. The fitness staff have done a great job with getting him into full training (after back stress fractures).
“He’ll be a great asset to the club for a long time. He and his brother Bodhi are stars.”
Bailey Humphrey
“He’s been super, ‘Hump’. He’s a much loved figure of the club, he’s very popular among the players and coaches with the way he plays and connects with the group.
“We understood the family nature of the reason for some of the things going on. We’re more than happy to have him back.”
Players to watch
“It’s hard to say just one or two. The group of guys that are really hungry to get that spot in the 23 like (Jake) Rogers, Sam Clohesy, Leo Lombard, Will Graham, those types.
“Ned Moyle is another one pushing hard too. It’s those guys that have had a taste of senior footy but aren’t locks just yet.
“It is that group who have been pushing everyone.”
The Suns take on St Kilda in a practice match at People First Stadium on February 19 before meeting Brisbane in the AAMI Community Series on February 26 prior to their Opening Round clash with the Cats (March 6).
Grigg will also act as Victoria assistant coach to Chris Scott for the Origin clash with Western Australia on February 14.
Image from Gold Coast Suns on Instagram.
