Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has shed a tear after being informed he will make his Gold Coast debut in the Suns' AFL clash with Hawthorn in Launceston.
Ugle-Hagan, the No.1 pick from the 2020 draft, didn't play a single game last year for the Western Bulldogs as he battled a range of off-field and mental health issues.
The Dogs cut their losses at the end of the season, trading the 24-year-old Indigenous star for pick No.74.
It was a bargain deal for Gold Coast, but one that also came with massive risks.
Ugle-Hagan was overlooked for the Suns' first six rounds of the season, but his five-goal haul in the VFL last week was simply too hard to ignore.
"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," Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick said.
"It's an incredible story, it's been 596 days since his last AFL game.
"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."
In October last year, Ugle Hagan described 2025 as a "year from hell".
Ugle-Hagan said he attended 12 funerals in that year alone, with a decline in his mental health taking a toll.
The key forward uses football as his medicine, and Suns fans will be licking their lips to see what Ugle-Hagan can produce on Saturday.
"A lot of people have done a lot of work with Jamarra to get him the opportunity to make his club debut," Hardwick said.
"We're excited about what's he going to offer. What we do know is we think he's going to be a big part of our future moving forward."
Gold Coast sit fourth on the ladder with a 4-2 record, while Hawthorn (5-1) are third.
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