Western Bulldogs list boss Sam Power insists no trade request from troubled former number one draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has come across his desk, but that the club will be 'open-minded', should that change.
Ugle-Hagan met with the Gold Coast Suns last week in an effort to re-ignite his playing career away from the Whitten Oval. Power, however, remains adamant no communication from the Ugle-Hagan camp has been forthcoming regarding a potential move.
"We haven't had any dialogue; Jamarra hasn't requested a trade," he said.
"The club keeps in contact - he's a Western Bulldogs player and we have great care for our players and staff. There's regular communications through different people, mostly around care.
"We've seen the interest that's there, but at this stage he hasn't requested the trade."
When pressed about the potential need for club and player to have a fresh start, Power indicated that line of thinking will be analysed, but only should a trade request be forthcoming.
"That's something we'll work through. If it is to come [a trade request], we can have those conversations. Everyone wants the best for Jamarra.
"We absolutely would [have him back]. I'm really proud of the club and how the club has dealt with it."
The Bulldogs were caught off-guard by Ugle-Hagan's return to play on the weekend. Their key forward plied his trade in the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Carnival, at Cranbourne, alongside the likes of 2023 Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill, and troubled former North Melbourne player, Tarryn Thomas.
"Jamarra's on a management plan through the club and the AFL, and there's a lot of confidentiality that comes with that. We were unaware that he was playing. We were made aware, but not by him."
The Dogs shape as lynchpins in this year's trade period, after a season in which the club failed to qualify for September action.
Power reaffirmed the club's interest in Port Adelaide superstar, and western suburbs product, Zak Butters, and Gold Coast Sun Connor Budarick, while refusing to address why they ultimately did not proceed with Demons key defender, Steven May.
"I'm not going to comment [on May] - that's unfair, as he's a contracted player. We assess all options. There's been a lot of talk externally about us potentially needing a key back. We'll consider all options, but in doing that we'll be considered and really targeted to explore players that we think are really gonna make us a better team, short, medium and long term.
"Zak's contracted. He's clearly an unbelievable player and we admire, like a lot of clubs, what he's done from afar, and you always take an extra interest when a player's from the western suburbs.
"We're open minded (to being busy). Connor Budarick's indicated he'd like to come to us.
"We've built flexibility into our thinking and into the list spots we have, to be able to manoeuvre and go down certain paths if they align. We're not going to do something just for the sake of doing it, that's not how we operate. We're pretty targeted, we don't cast a net ridiculously wide."
The Dogs ultimately fell short of luring All Australian defender Cal Wilkie away from Moorabbin, but Power confirmed the club's engagement with the St Kilda stalwart.
"It's hard to know how close [we came to landing him]. We respect Cal's decision to stay there - he's an unbelievable player," Power said.
"Yes we did explore it, but in the end only he could probably answer that."
