AFL
3 days ago
Cornes: The rival Victorian club that’s the “number one fit” for Ugle-Hagan
By Lachlan Geleit
Kane Cornes has urged St Kilda to take a punt on Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan this off-season.
As things stand, the 22-year-old is training sparingly with the Dogs as he deals with off-field issues, and it remains unclear if he’ll even return to play at all in 2025.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge even told Nine’s Footy Classified that there are “a lot of unknowns” about Ugle-Hagan’s future at the Kennel despite him being contracted until the end of the 2026 season.
With it looking increasingly likely that the former No.1 pick will move on, Cornes thinks that the club that should take the risk on rebuilding Ugle-Hagan’s career is clearly St Kilda, urging coach Ross Lyon to take on the challenge himself.
He discussed why he considers the Saints an ideal landing spot for the forward with Gerard Healy on SEN’s Sportsday.
Cornes: “If his future is not (at the Bulldogs) and it's looking like it's not, and I think the Western Bulldogs and Luke have been quite open about that, and we’d all be understanding if patience has run out.”
Healy: “If it hasn’t run out, you’ve got more patience than me.”
Cornes: “I’m with you on that, but isn’t it a Ross Lyon challenge? Sydney would be a disaster for Jamarra.”
Healy: “I'm not a fan of associating Sydney with Jamarra.”
Cornes: “I think, get him under the claws of Ross Lyon, and if they want to really show that they're a footy club who cares about all these things that they've had a huge focus on with their review after losing Josh Battle (this is the chance).
“They are the number one best fit for Jamarra. Look at it in terms of on-field where he would play next to Max King if they can get him fit, there is clearly a huge need for a second dangerous forward… I think he’d perfectly suit Max.
“I think it's an excellent challenge for Ross, and one that he should accept, because Geelong would accept it, why wouldn’t Ross accept this challenge?”
Healy: “I'm sure he would if he knew what he was getting. I'm just not sure you know what you're getting at the moment.
“It's such a complex issue at the present time. The best place for him is the Bulldogs.”
Cornes: “What's there to lose for the Saints?”
Healy: “Well, it depends on what you pay. If you're paying a late second-rounder, well, everybody would take it.
“But if you're investing your future in him like two first-rounders, there's no way I'd do that deal because I don't know what I'm getting.”
Cornes: “He may never be this cheap ever.”
Healy: “But you'd want it cheap.”
Cornes: “The Saints can afford a lot. We've seen the numbers thrown around. They've got to spend their salary cap somewhere.”
Healy: “I wouldn't be spending it there.”
Cornes: “They're into everyone, and I’m with you on the level of trust. But I think this is a young man and it’s a great challenge for Ross.
“Can he (Ugle-Hagan) do what Tyson Stengle has done at Geelong? Can he do what Jesse Hogan has done and become a Coleman Medallist? Absolutely, he can.
“I think the best fit for him is at the Saints, but we'll see.”
