Ugle-Hagan Debuts for Suns After 600-Day Absence

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, the 2020 No. 1 draft pick, will make his long-awaited return to AFL football on Saturday, debuting for the Gold Coast Suns against Hawthorn in Launceston after nearly 600 days away from the senior game.

The 24-year-old forward, who played 67 matches for the Western Bulldogs before being traded to the Suns last year, was selected in the team's lineup announced on Thursday. Ugle-Hagan teared up upon hearing the news during a team meeting, an emotional moment shared by Suns coach Damien Hardwick. "We told Jamarra in front of the playing group this morning, and I'm not going to lie, there was a tear from player and probably the coach as well," Hardwick said. He described the selection as "an incredible story," noting that Ugle-Hagan had worked diligently to earn his spot. "He's done a power of work for us, we've made him earn it, and we've been so impressed by what he's brought," Hardwick added. "A lot of people have done a lot of work with Jamarra to get him the opportunity to make his club debut. We're excited about what he's going to offer. What we do know is we think he's going to be a big part of our future moving forward."