Re-draft: How far Jamarra Ugle-Hagan would slide in a 2020 AFL draft do-over
The 2020 draft was one of the most complicated drafts in AFL history, with the vast majority of the crop spending the year inside due to COVID lockdowns.
The unique circumstances made the task incredibly difficult for scouts, who were essentially judging players on under 17s form and interviews.
On re-draft, it is no less complicated. The number one pick at the time was Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to the Western Bulldogs who, until 2024, fit the bill as a rising young key forward who you would bank on with the top selection.
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Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in 2024 Getty
However, it has become increasingly difficult to evaluate that draft class given Ugle-Hagan's off-field issues, the fact that he hasn't played for the Western Bulldogs this year and questions as to whether he will ever recapture his love of the game.
So, how do you even begin re-ranking this draft crop in 2025? How does Ugle-Hagan fit in? Would he be a top 10 pick?
Those are the questions that shape this re-draft.
Original top 10:
1. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs)
2. Riley Thilthorpe (Adelaide)
3. Will Phillips (North Melbourne)
4. Logan McDonald (Sydney)
5. Braden Campbell (Sydney)
6. Denver Grainger-Barras (Hawthorn)
7. Elijah Hollands (Gold Coast)
8. Nik Cox (Essendon)
9. Archie Perkins (Essendon)
10. Zach Reid (Essendon)
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in his draft year Getty
A big consideration is the overall quality of the draft which, frankly, isn't great.
The 2020 draft is shallow in terms of both stars produced and even quality role players.
It is helped by two gems emerging from the rookie draft in Josh Treacy and Jack Ginnivan.
With that in mind, would teams still roll the dice on Ugle-Hagan given his remaining upside, and take him over a decent role player?
Even after this year's turbulence, someone will inevitably give the young Bulldog a chance, presumably a team outside of Victoria, assuming the Dogs can't mend the bridge.
The question is how far down the draft board would his baggage see him tumble, knowing you're still getting a few quality years out of him and knowing you could still have a long-term star key forward at the end of the day.
In most drafts? He probably slides a decent amount. Potentially deep into the first round.
In the 2020 draft, not as far as you'd think.
Riley Thilthorpe would now be the number one pick in a 2020 re-draft AFL Photos via Getty Images
In Ugle-Hagan's absence, the man who was taken directly after him in Riley Thilthorpe goes number one.
The rising star key forward looks the complete package and has emerged in the last 18 months as a clear star the Crows can build around.
He edges out Sydney two-time All-Australian Errol Gulden, simply because of the positional value of a 201cm key forward with the upside Thilthorpe possesses.
Gulden is already a superstar of the competition at just 22 as an outside midfielder with lethal disposal by foot.
Next up is another decision between a rising key forward and current star midfielder, with Geelong's Max Holmes and Fremantle's Josh Treacy.
Holmes has the edge to this point, though Treacy's rise over the past two seasons has been something to behold.
The young Cat has had poorly timed injuries, missing the 2022 grand final, but looks ready to become the club's number one midfielder.
Max Holmes of the Cats jumps from pick 20 to pick three Getty
After that clear top four - we come to our first 'should this be Ugle-Hagan' position.
Key position pair Logan McDonald and Zach Reid are likely the next cabs off the rank, despite being yet to show any great consistency, but such is this draft.
Both have shown glimpses of their potential though, with Reid in particular shining in 2025 after years of injuries.
Given both are still young and their added value as key position players, they sit above the flanker role players in the next tier.
However, this is where Ugle-Hagan has landed. At pick five, with McDonald and Reid to follow.
The Bulldog's output across the last few seasons has far exceeded that of anyone else in this re-draft outside of the top four, and that, coupled with the remaining upside should he put things together, has him sliding in here at five.
If this was the 2021 draft, for example, Ugle-Hagan would have fallen further and certainly out of the top 10.
After McDonald at six and Reid at seven, we have our next tier of emerging role players across the flanks in Archie Perkins, Braeden Campbell, Elijah Hollands and Jake Bowey.
Then there's forwards Ginnivan and Ollie Henry, who have both had quite an impact early on in their career, though the questions remain as to how much upside remains.
However, at this point the draft becomes a bit much-of-a-muchness, and this is how we have ultimately re-drafted the top 10 picks.
Re-drafted top 10:
1. Riley Thilthorpe (originally pick 2)
2. Errol Gulden (originally pick 32)
3. Max Holmes (originally pick 20)
4. Josh Treacy (originally a rookie draft pick)
5. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (originally pick 1)
6. Zach Reid (originally pick 10)
7. Logan McDonald (originally pick 4)
8. Elijah Hollands (originally pick 7)
9. Jake Bowey (originally pick 21)
10. Archie Perkins (originally pick 9)
Unlucky to miss out: Jack Ginnivan, Ollie Henry, Braeden Campbell, Tom Powell, Beau McCreery
