“Clunky”: Gold Coast unsettled on forward line mix

Gold Coast key forwards Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Jed Walter have plenty to improve if they are to lock down a spot in Damien Hardwick's side.

Ugle-Hagan made the cross from the Western Bulldogs after a tumultuous 2025, sitting on the sidelines for the entire season due to personal reasons.

The former Dog is working his way back to AFL standard, while Walter was overlooked by Hardwick late last year as the club made its first finals appearance.

Last week against St Kilda, the Suns got a glimpse of the duo combining in the absence of Ben King (Origin duties) but failed to strike a blow.

"It's shown glimpses over the summer, but I thought it was pretty clunky over the weekend," assistant coach Brad Miller said.

"They're still working out how each other play. It's something you can't rush, chemistry.

"Jamarra has played a certain way for a long time, and now he's got to come in and fit in our system. So it's going to be clunky at times.

"It's understanding the system that we play and being able to execute his role within that system.

"He gave himself the best chance by doing a lot of work before he started pre-season training.

"But it's more about playing a role. So, he's in the right place at the right time for how we play."

Miller reiterated the club's viewpoint on Walter's development, saying the Suns Academy graduate needs to lift if he is to play consistent senior football.

"Like Jamarra, Jed has to do the same. He has to play his role but also has to develop an awareness of what the other key forwards are doing within that system and that chemistry has to go to another level," Miller added.

"Last year we finished with Kingy, Reid and Jai Farrah playing those roles and their synergy developed really nicely.

"And the chemistry needs to go to another level to be hard to play against all the time.

"We just have to be patient. We will make decisions based on the evidence but at the moment it's only a small sample size."

Hardwick will get another chance to see the front half cohesion on Thursday against the reigning premiers, before an Opening Round clash against Geelong on March 6.